Definition:Statement Label

Definition

A statement label is a symbol which is assigned to a particular statement, so that it can be identified without the need to write it out in full.

For such conventions to make sense, different statements must always be given different statement labels.

The citing of a statement label can be interpreted as an assertion that the statement represented by that symbol is true.

That is:

$P$

means

$P \text { is true}$

Also known as

Other names for this concept include:

• abbreviatory letter
• sentence letter.

Also see

• Compare, but do not confuse, with statement variables.

Sources

• 1964: Donald Kalish and Richard Montague: Logic: Techniques of Formal Reasoning ... (previous) ... (next): $\text{I}$: 'NOT' and 'IF': $\S 1$
• 1980: D.J. O'Connor and Betty Powell: Elementary Logic ... (previous) ... (next): $\S \text{I}: 2$: Logical Constants $(1)$
• 1988: Alan G. Hamilton: Logic for Mathematicians (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 1$: Informal statement calculus: $\S 1.1$: Statements and connectives