1. A computer implemented method for combining topic suggestions from different topic sources to assign to textual data items, the method comprising: receiving, from a first automated topic source, one or more first topic suggestions to associate with a textual data item, each first topic suggestion having a respective first characteristic; adjusting, by a processor of a computing device, the first characteristic of each first topic suggestion; receiving, from a second automated topic source, one or more second topic suggestions to associate with the textual data item, each second topic suggestion having a respective second characteristic; adjusting the second characteristic of each second topic suggestion; combining the first and second topic suggestions to define a combined list of topic suggestions; providing the combined list of topic suggestions suitable for a display device capable of displaying the combined list in a user interface; receiving, at the processor from the display device, a selection of one or more of the topic suggestions from the combined list to assign to the textual data item; and determining or retrieving a reference value to impact ordering of the topic suggestions in the combined list.