JYoung6180@aol.com (JYoung6180@aol.com) opined: >> The lack of consensus is clearly illustrated by the article you >> originally cited, with no one method clearly favored. >> >> What do _I_ use? I leave the unknown portion of the name blank. >> Why? Because I don't like any of the other alternatives, including >> FNU. That said, methinks the right answer to the OP is "whatever >> works for you, but be ready to explain yourself". >> >> Swell Ol' Bob <amia9018@mypacks.net> > > Bob- > > The article DOES explain what is preferred while acknowledging that > many people do not use it or know of it. As with so many other things, this is one person's (the article's author) idea of the ideal. Unfortunately, though, this idea is not supported by practice .. umm, more honored in the breach than the observance. > I'd accept your "whatever works for you" advice provided you are not > preparing your file for anyone other than YOU to use or view. If > others are to use it or even SEE it -- they are not going to come to > you necessarily for an explanation of your display methods...they > are going to draw their own, probably incorrect conclusions and > base their file upon their misconceptions. Don't you think a lot depends on whom things are being prepared for? If I'm trading information with my cousin, she's likely to already know that we're not descended from the ancient FNU tribe. On the other hand, if I'm publishing on, say, RootsWeb, I'm inclined to (1) look at what's already there for guidance and (2) ask what they prefer (get their style manual, in other words). I'd no more consider publishing my genealogical data without finding out the publisher's style preferences than I would a technical or professional paper without finding out whether they prefer the APA or Chicago style manuals. I certainly won't claim that there's one right way to do things. I will ask, though, what makes the way you've adopted the right one? The article you cite is one person's opinion .. two, maybe, counting you .. but has no force otherwise. Yes, it's great to have standards, but those standards are usually arrived at by consensus, not by fiat (or chrysler ;-D ). It's clear - to me, at least - that the article was an attempt to impose a standard by fiat in an area where there was no consensus at the time of writing and no consensus today. > Joan <JYoung6180@aol.com> Stubborn Ol' Bob -- Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas ----- A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have. Thomas Jefferson Bob Melson <amia9018@mypacks.net>