一、主要分類
Journal期刊：刊登關於某特殊主題的文章的期刊
magazine雜志：綜合性內容的期刊
transactions(學會等的)議事錄,會報,會刊
proceedings記錄, 會議錄; 年[學]報; (科學文獻)匯編
二、IEEE分類
IEEE的paper大體分為3類，letter,magazine,journal/transaction.
IEEE letter:屬於快報形式，一般發表最新的研究成果，文章要求短小，理論推導要求不高。
IEEE Magazine:這才是屬於雜志類，一般要求用文字和圖表來表述些最新研究成果，不允許有過多的公式推導
IEEE Jour/Trans:這兩個屬於同一類，期刊雜志，但兩者面向的讀者和表達方式上略有不同。兩者都需要有很大的創新點，和比較詳細的公式推導。
Trans:具體到一個相對較細的專業方向上，如IEEE Trans. Sign.Proc.。
而jour:面向的讀者群卻更加廣泛,如IEEE J-SAC,所以jour需要對背景知識有更加全面的介紹。雖然jour沒有trans.的專注度高，但是其理論深度的要求也很高，而且其影響因子往往遠遠高於Trans.
三、其他說明
1 僅從目標來說， Transaction, Journal, Letter 僅僅是名稱不同而已 。以 IEEE協會的出版物為例
The mission of IEEE Transactions, Journals, and Letters is to provide archival publications that are of lasting value to the engineering community. These periodicals provide the profession with content that has been peer-reviewed and published with the objective of creating an historical account of progress in the field.
兩個重點： 1）是為了提供一個保存有長久價值的知識的出版品；2） 經過 peer-review 的程序 。
2 但是如果要更細分這三種出版品的話, 先以 IEEE Power Electronics Letters 和 IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics 為例說明 Letter 和 Transaction的不同：
1）IEEE Power Electronics Letters
This electronic publication will be devoted to the rapid publication of short manuscripts of archival value in the general area of power electronics. Power electronics is the underlying technology for a vast portion of electrical energy processing.
2）IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics
The development of power electronics technology. This technology encompasses the effective use of electronic components, the application of circuit theory and design techniques, and the development of analytical tools toward efficient electronic conversion, control, and conditioning of electric power.
可以看到的是, Letter 的內容通常是 Short Paper, 有即時性的, 而 Transaction 收錄的內容則沒有這個在時間上的特性.
3 至於Journal 的內容, 是屬於比較難的。Journal 所收錄的內容介於Transaction 及 Letter之間,可收錄 Short Paper 也可收錄 Regular Paper. 以 IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics 為例：
IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics is published monthly.It comprises original contributions, both regular papers and letters, in the broad field of the science and technology of quantum electronics of either a device-, subject-, or system-oriented nature. IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society Field of Interest Lasers, optical devices, optical fibers and associated lightwave technology and their application in systems and subsystems, in which the quantum electronic devices are key elements. The Society is concerned with the research,development, design, manufacture, and applications of materials, devices and systems, and with the various scientific and technological activities which contribute to the useful expansion of the field of quantum electronics and applications.
除了 IEEE, 在通信科學領域另一個重量級學會 ACM,對於命名一個 New Publication 則有下列建議 ：
Proposed name of new publication
If this is a peer-reviewed journal it will probably be called ACM Transactions on XXX (although there are some exceptions).Other ACM publications must use other names. You may propose a single name or several possible names for the Board to consider.
在選擇名字時還要考慮到它的類型 ：
Format and type of publication
Are you proposing a peer-reviewed journal, a magazine, an online newsletter, or some other type of publication? Are you proposing a print publication or an online-only publication? How frequently will this publication publish new articles? How long will a typical article be? How many articles will be included in each issue? Will this publication include something other than traditional articles (software, multimedia, message boards, etc.)
另外, 在其中有這么一句話：
Please provide an overview of the proposed editorial process.
Will articles go through a full refereeing process, or a less
rigorous review process (transactions must use a refereeing process)
這就說明了 Transaction必須經過Refereeing 才可以 。
如果有人對其他形式的 publication 如 magazine, newsletter, proceeding 有興趣 IEEE 的 IEEE Policy 6.6 倒是有一些描述可供參考.