code: def isJournal(self, dbname = abrevDBname, manualDB = manualDBname, returnDict ='both', checkIfExcluded = False):
          
          global abbrevDict
          if abbrevDict is None:
              abbrevDict = getj9dict(dbname = dbname, manualDB = manualDB, returnDict = returnDict)
          if not hasattr(self, 'journal'):
              return False
          elif checkIfExcluded and self.journal:
              try:
                  if abbrevDict.get(self.journal, [True])[0]:
                      return False
                  else:
                      return True
              except IndexError:
                  return False
          else:
              if self.journal:
                  dictVal = abbrevDict.get(self.journal, [b''])[0]
                  if dictVal:
                      return dictVal
                  else:
                      return False
              else:
                  return False
docs: Returns `True` if the `Citation`'s `journal` field is a journal abbreviation from the WOS listing found at [http://images.webofknowledge.com/WOK46/help/WOS/A_abrvjt.html](http://images.webofknowledge.com/WOK46/help/WOS/A_abrvjt.html), i.e. checks if the citation is citing a journal.
  
          **Note**: Requires the [j9Abbreviations](../modules/journalAbbreviations.html#metaknowledge.journalAbbreviations.backend.getj9dict) database file and will raise an error if it cannot be found.
  
          **Note**: All parameters are used for getting the data base with [getj9dict](../modules/journalAbbreviations.html#metaknowledge.journalAbbreviations.backend.getj9dict).
  
          # Parameters
  
          _dbname_ : `optional [str]`
  
          > The name of the downloaded database file, the default is determined at run time. It is recommended that this remain untouched.
  
          _manualDB_ : `optional [str]`
  
          > The name of the manually created database file, the default is determined at run time. It is recommended that this remain untouched.
  
          _returnDict_ : `optional [str]`
  
          > default `'both'`, can be used to get both databases or only one  with `'WOS'` or `'manual'`.
  
          # Returns
  
          `bool`
  
          > `True` if the `Citation` is for a journal