Clarify nickname (#482)

* Clarify nickname Add additional clarification to nickname, explaining the word's meaning in English which is not shared by several European countries. See [this comment](#473 (comment)) and the rest of issue #473 for more on why this clarification is needed. Although #473's discussion covers many more topics, if we go back to the title and first question in the issue I think this resolves #473. * Update specification/gedcom-3-structures-3-meaning.md * Change recommendation * Update specification/gedcom-3-structures-3-meaning.md * Update specification/gedcom-3-structures-3-meaning.md --------- Co-authored-by: Dave Thaler <[email protected]>
FamilySearch · Jul 2, 2024 · 68bbe57 · 68bbe57
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diff --git a/specification/gedcom-3-structures-3-meaning.md b/specification/gedcom-3-structures-3-meaning.md
@@ -960,7 +960,15 @@ See also `INDIVIDUAL_ATTRIBUTE_STRUCTURE`.
 
 #### `NICK` (Nickname) `g7:NICK`
 
-A descriptive or familiar name that is used instead of, or in addition to, one’s proper name.
+A descriptive or familiar name that is used instead of, or in addition to, one’s official or legal name.
+
+:::note
+The label "nickname" and description text of this structure were introduced with version 5.5 in 1996, but are understood differently by different users.
+Some use `NICK` only for names that would be inappropriate in formal settings.
+Some use it for pseudonyms regardless of where they are used.
+Some use it for any variant of a name that is not the one used on legal documents.
+Because all of these uses, and likely others as well, are common in existing data, no further clarification of the meaning of the `NICK` structure is possible without contradicting some existing data.
+:::
 
 #### `NMR` (Number of marriages) `g7:NMR`