Many beginners confuse journalizing with posting. They happen in sequence, but they are two completely different steps. Mixing them up on an exam costs easy marks.
Answer
The correct answer is: Posting
Why Posting Is Correct
Posting is the process of transferring the information recorded in the general journal into the individual accounts of the general ledger. After a transaction is journalized, posting moves each debit and credit entry to its appropriate ledger account, updating the running balance.
This is a two-step process in accounting:
- Journalize — record the transaction in the general journal
- Post — transfer that entry to the ledger accounts
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Journalizing This is the step that happens before posting. Journalizing means recording a transaction for the first time in the general journal with debits and credits. It does not involve the ledger.
Double-entry accounting This is a system, not a process. It refers to the rule that every transaction affects at least two accounts — one debit and one credit. It describes how accounting works, not a specific transfer action.
Balancing an account This means calculating the net balance of a ledger account by totaling debits and credits. It happens after posting, not during it.
The Sequence to Remember
| Step | Action | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Journalizing | General Journal |
| 2 | Posting | General Ledger |
| 3 | Balancing | Ledger Accounts |
Posting is always the bridge between the journal and the ledger.
