Re: [Refdb-users] Re: The case against <middlename>

[Bruce D'A. <bd...@fa...>]

OK, I just pulled out the Bible of citations: the Chicago Manual of 
Style.

Nowhere does it make any distinction between first and middle and last 
names.  Where it discusses names, it uses family and given, even when 
discussing styles in the life sciences.  To quote:

"In a reference list, especially in the life sciences, initials rather 
than full given names are often given...."

I guess I'm just not seeing the problem Markus.  If you have style that 
does not require initialization of given names, then it's irrelevant 
whether you have:

<given>James Christopher</given>
<family>Scott</family>

or ...

<given>James C.</given>
<family>Scott</family>

or...

<given>James</given>
<middle>Christopher</middle>
<family>Scott</family>

They would be formatted as complete strings.

Likewise, if your style requires initials, then you get the same output:

Scott, J. C.

If different styles require different spacing between the given name 
initials, or different punctuation, then it applies to all the given 
names, including the so-called "middle."

Right?

Bruce