Consistency in Genealogical Format and Use of Abbreviations - International Institute

Consistency in Format and Use of Abbreviations
Be consistent in your work, for example decide right now:


 * What standard abbreviations you will use, especially where it comes to the ‘B’ problem in genealogy. B stands for born, birth, baptism, banns, burial, both and bachelor. It is common to use b. for birth, c. for christening, m. for marriage, d. for death, and bur. for burial. Make yourself a list that you will use and tape it inside your workbook.


 * Whether you will write all surnames last or first. Surnames are always capitalized and maiden surnames used for women. Have you ever been frustrated by a name written as Henry Augustus Senior? Is he Henry AUGUSTUS, senior or is he Henry Augustus SENIOR? Likewise, because there are so many condensed patronymic names in the English language, names like Henry JAMES need to have their surnames capitalized to avoid confusion with Henry, James and James Henry.


 * What spelling of the surname you are going to use. There are three standard conventions:


 * standardized name for all the family
 * the spelling most often used by (or for) that person
 * the spelling first used for that person at birth or christening

Then stick to your chosen formats!

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