ABSTRACT
However, if descriptions are really going to act as substitutes for the originals, then it is important to ensure that they are effective representations. Moreover, different representations are needed for different purposes. There is a general rule, therefore, that an archival description should contain, as far as possible, just those elements of information which are required for the purposes of a particular representation, and should omit data which is not needed in that particular context, thus avoiding redundancy or confusion.
