Template talk:R:inc-hnd:Platts

@Sgconlaw, hi, could you please confirm which one of the twain (diff, diff) is a better format, and possibly also explain why the one is preferred to the other? Thanks! ·~ dictátor·mundꟾ 11:36, 23 June 2021 (UTC)

@Inqilābī: my preference is to provide the full name in square brackets if it is known as it may help readers to better identify the work, but I don't think there's a consensus on this. — SGconlaw (talk) 15:27, 23 June 2021 (UTC)

@Sgconlaw: Since I have seen you doing that, I thought providing the full name in square brackets was the accepted format; now I am not asking to know about consensus here, but what is the more common style for publishers/writers worldwide? You said you follow that format on the grounds of better identification of the work, but when the author’s name has a link to the Wikipedia article, do you think it’s really needed? Is this not a divergence from the original text though? ·~ dictátor·mundꟾ 18:26, 23 June 2021 (UTC)

@Inqilābī: I can't answer that question – I have no idea what is the more prevalent practice worldwide. I think different publishers have different policies. Clearly if a very incomplete name is stated in the work it would be necessary to provide the information for clarity (for example, "G[eorge] H[erbert]"), but it is less necessary if the abbreviated name is a middle name or the author is otherwise well known. Nonetheless, for consistency I prefer to add the full name if known. — SGconlaw (talk) 18:40, 23 June 2021 (UTC)