User:David Kernow/Abbreviations and category naming

Discussion history regarding abbreviations in category names as found in Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (categories), its archives and related pages.

Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (categories)/Archive 1

• #Previous discussions

Wikipedia talk:Category titles/Archive 1	Only mention of "abbreviation" appears to be as regards "U.S.", i.e. country abbreviations – which is not the current issue.
Wikipedia talk:Category titles/Archive 2	Ditto, plus "UK".
Wikipedia talk:Category titles/Archive 3	Further discussion re use of abbreviations for country names; not the current issue. However, includes mention here of the "Avoid abbreviations..." statement now in Wikipedia:Naming conventions (categories). From #And now?: "...Issues that will be debated at a later stage ... Whether or not to use abbreviations in cat names". There does not appear to be a record of a debate about using abbreviations in category names, countries excepted.
Wikipedia talk:Category titles/Archive 4	No apparent mention of "abbreviation" (case-insensitive search for "abbr*").
Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (categories)/Archive 5	Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (categories)/Archive 5#Simple statements includes a passing mention thus: "...Category speedy renaming is written so that it can adopt existing naming conventions (for instance, I've proposed that the "no abbreviations" NC be so adopted, and there don't seem to be any objections)..."
Wikipedia talk:Category titles/Archive: Poll started August 4, 2005	Mention of abbreviation as regards country names, including here, where "WP:CG#General_naming_conventions" invoked: WP:CG as forerunner to current Wikipedia:Naming conventions (categories) First mention of abbreviations appears to be here, on June 2, 2004. However, there doesn't appear to be any discussion or search for consensus regarding abbreviations in its entire talk-page history. Another mention of abbreviations, again in context of country names, a few lines below: "18. (the) United Kingdom/(the) United States, with British/American used adjectivally. Abbreviations on their own look clumsy and unencyclopaedic, in my opinion, (in any context, not just in category and article titles) and there's absolutely no need to expand the names any further to the official titles. -- Necrothesp 19:43, 6 August 2005 (UTC)" with emphasis added as this appears to be the first recorded opposition to abbreviations in general. Three further mentions, all in context of country names, then reiteration of opposition to abbreviations in general by Necrothesp: "...Although I would use US Marine Corps in speech, I would almost always write United States Marine Corps, as I think abbreviations are generally clumsy and unencyclopaedic. -- Necrothesp 19:46, 6 August 2005 (UTC)" #Proposal 4b relates to use of abbreviations for country names. One reference to WP:CG#General_naming_conventions: "...(consistent with WP:CG#General_naming_conventions: Avoid abbreviations). -- Rick Block (talk) 14:07, August 4, 2005 (UTC)". Further mentions of abbreviations, but all in context of country names.
Wikipedia talk:Category titles/Archive: Summary of poll started August 4, 2005	One mention of abbreviations re country names.

• Rest of page
  • Case-insensitive "abbr*" not found.

Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (categories)/Archive 2

• Second outright disapproval to using abbreviations in category names: "There is no reason to have abbreviations in article, category, etc. titles... Semiconscious · talk 10:02, 11 January 2006 (UTC)"
• Followed immediately by third apparent general disapproval: "...Avoid abbreviations. siafu 21:44, 11 January 2006 (UTC)"
• Subsequnet comments by Steve block may indicate a fourth general disapproval.

Current talk page

#Abbreviations: to expand or not to expand?

• Query over abbreviations' status in general by JeffW.
• Prospective support that abbreviations do not have to be expanded from David Kernow.
• Prospective support from Mayumashu.
• Implicit opposition from Francis Schonken.
• Opposition from Bhoele.
• Implicit opposition from Syrthiss.
• Opposition from Sumahoy.
• Opposition from William Allen Simpson.
• Support from Rlevse.
• Support from Coffeeboy.
• Opposition from Hawkestone.
• Support from Lou Crazy.
• Support from Naha.
• Support from Bkonrad ("older ≠ wiser")
• Support from evrik.
• Prospective support from Gadget850.
• Opposition from savidan.
• Prospective support from NThurston.

The "Avoid abbreviations..." statement's first appearance seems to be here, on August 31, 2005, without apparent support for or against.