what is the purpose of the amount column?

Question

just trying to understand why i need to be looking at both the deposit and the amount column.

NotACPA · Accepted Answer

The primary purpose of the Amount column is to confuse people.Use the Payment & Deposit (in Asset accounts) and the Charge & Payment (in liability accounts) instead.Using them is MUCH easier to understand than when you need (don't need) to use a minus sign before the dollars in the Amount column.

Sherlock · Accepted Answer

Some folks prefer to use one column (Amount) versus two (Payment and Deposit).  We can select the columns viewed in the non-investment registers: press Ctrl + Shift + N and select Register columns...

Chris_QPW · Accepted Answer

The main reason I can see for having the amount column is for people with limited display width resolution.
The amount column can do what the two other columns do in less space provided you can keep the signs of your transactions correct in your mind.

splasher · Accepted Answer

Some folks like to see a minus sign (-) in front of their debits, so they would use the Amount column versus the combination of Payment and Deposit.