Notes and Queries

Notes and Queries is a long-running quarterly scholarly journal that publishes short articles related to "English language and literature, lexicography, history, and scholarly antiquarianism". Its emphasis is on "the factual rather than the speculative". The journal has a long history, having been established in 1849 in London; it is now published by Oxford University Press.

The journal was originally subtitled "a medium of inter-communication for literary men, artists, antiquaries, genealogists, etc". It is now subtitled "For readers and writers, collectors and librarians". Its motto was once "When found, make a note of", the catchphrase of Capt. Cuttle, a character in Dickens' Dombey and Son.

Format

Notes and Queries was first published in 1849 as a weekly periodical edited by W.J. Thoms. It was founded as an academic correspondence magazine, in which scholars and interested amateurs could exchange knowledge on folklore, literature and history. The format consisted of "Notes" (miscellaneous findings of correspondents that they and the editors considered of interest to the readership), and "Queries" (and responses to queries), which formed the bulk of the publication. The magazine has been likened to a nineteenth century version of a moderated Internet newsgroup.