If no title can be found in any source, use as the title proper the opening words of the text if these provide a relatively distinctive title. If the opening words of the text are not suitable, or if the beginning of the text is lacking, devise a brief descriptive title, preferably in English, and use this devised title, enclosed in square brackets, as the title proper. Indicate in a note whether the title proper is taken from the opening words of the text or has been devised by the cataloger.

I am a jolly huntsman, my voice is shrill and clear

(Title is not bracketed because the first page of text is here the title page substitute)

Note: Title from opening two lines of poem

[Observations on a bill relative to the militia]

(Opening words "Herewith and the desire of being serviceable in the smallest degree to my country ..." not suitable as title)

Note: Title devised from content

[A Sermon on Christian baptism]

Note: Title devised from content of sermon

Supply a title proper for an item lacking a chief source of information from the rest of the item, or a reference source, or elsewhere. If no title can be found in any source, devise a brief descriptive title. Enclose such a supplied or devised title in square brackets.

[Carte de la lune]

If the item has no title page and if no other source furnishes a title proper, transcribe as the title proper as many of the opening words of the text as are sufficient to identify the item uniquely.

DCRB and AACR2 both instruct the cataloger to construct at title if none can be found. DCRB gives a suggestion for where to find the wording for this constructed title.

The capitalization of "Sermon" in the example is incorrect since AACR2R

AACR2 (Chapter 1) does not specify where the title is to be taken from if no title can be found. DCRB’s instructions are useful and will promote uniformity. Query, however: when would the opening words of the text not be considered a title page substitute? (In other words, if the opening words of the text always appear on the title page substitute, what is the problem this language is trying to address? We already know that a title can be taken from a title page substitute.)

The made up title should be in the language of the cataloging agency, as is the case of other cataloger supplied information.

Reccomendations:

Correct the capitalization of "Sermon" in the example.

Change "preferably in English" to "in the language of the cataloging agency".