* Adjusting entries: These entries are made at the end of an accounting period to ensure that the financial statements are accurate. Examples include depreciation, accrued expenses, and prepaid expenses.
* Closing entries: These entries are made at the end of an accounting period to close the temporary accounts (revenue, expense, and dividends) and transfer their balances to the permanent accounts (retained earnings).
* Correcting entries: These entries are made to fix errors made in previous journal entries.
* Non-routine transactions: These are transactions that are not common or occur infrequently, such as:
* Sale of fixed assets: When a company sells a piece of equipment, land, or building, the transaction is recorded in the general journal.
* Issuing stock: When a company issues shares of stock, the transaction is recorded in the general journal.
* Paying dividends: When a company pays dividends to its shareholders, the transaction is recorded in the general journal.
* Mergers and acquisitions: These complex transactions require detailed journal entries that are not handled by special journals.
* Other unusual events: Transactions that are not covered by the special journals, like writing off bad debts or settling lawsuits.
Essentially, the general journal acts as a catch-all for transactions that don't neatly fit into the specialized journals. It provides a comprehensive record of all the company's financial activity.