diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py
index 86a9fe1133..eb0277bd3f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/base.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ msprefs.defaults['max_tags'] = 20
msprefs.defaults['wait_after_first_identify_result'] = 30 # seconds
msprefs.defaults['wait_after_first_cover_result'] = 60 # seconds
msprefs.defaults['swap_author_names'] = False
+msprefs.defaults['fewer_tags'] = True
# Google covers are often poor quality (scans/errors) but they have high
# resolution, so they trump covers from better sources. So make sure they
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
index 4d21a0c210..b427f19952 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ class ISBNMerge(object):
# We assume the smallest set of tags has the least cruft in it
ans.tags = self.length_merge('tags', results,
- null_value=ans.tags)
+ null_value=ans.tags, shortest=msprefs['fewer_tags'])
# We assume the longest series has the most info in it
ans.series = self.length_merge('series', results,
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.py
index 9f2c441054..4a6c7cfc06 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.py
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
r('wait_after_first_identify_result', msprefs)
r('wait_after_first_cover_result', msprefs)
r('swap_author_names', msprefs)
+ r('fewer_tags', msprefs)
self.configure_plugin_button.clicked.connect(self.configure_plugin)
self.sources_model = SourcesModel(self)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.ui
index 37797eda5a..e46069b036 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/metadata_sources.ui
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
0
0
781
- 300
+ 394
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
- -
+
-
Metadata sources
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
- -
+
-
Max. number of &tags to download:
@@ -115,10 +115,10 @@
- -
+
-
- -
+
-
Max. &time to wait after first match is found:
@@ -128,14 +128,14 @@
- -
+
-
secs
- -
+
-
Max. time to wait after first &cover is found:
@@ -145,13 +145,24 @@
- -
+
-
secs
+ -
+
+
+ <p>Different metadata sources have different sets of tags for the same book. If this option is checked, then calibre will use the smaller tag sets. These tend to be more like genres, while the larger tag sets tend to describe the books content.
+<p>Note that this option will only make a practical difference if one of the metadata sources has a genre like tag set for the book you are searching for. Most often, they all have large tag sets.
+
+
+ Prefer &fewer tags
+
+
+