From 68bbe572d4ac627166aa4cd21e43a2f238cdc4f5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Luther Tychonievich Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2024 13:12:51 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] 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](https://github.com/FamilySearch/GEDCOM/issues/473#issuecomment-2168463707) 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 --- specification/gedcom-3-structures-3-meaning.md | 10 +++++++++- 1 file changed, 9 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/specification/gedcom-3-structures-3-meaning.md b/specification/gedcom-3-structures-3-meaning.md index eabd3c9..cea6449 100644 --- 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`