Jason

1) Just use Singular - we should normally be talking about 1 monument, if
the site is a complex made up of elements then each element should include
the status and the complex should be a 'group item'
2) As little punctuation as possible, preferably none
3) All Caps.  I know this 'looks messy' but its the easiest to deal with
4) Full term should be the standard, but with an 'agreed' abbreviation for
internal use.  If we use an abbreviation and wish to store it then thats our
look out.

There.

Pete Iles


-----Original Message-----
From: Siddall, Jason [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 19 December 2001 15:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Peer Review: Format of terminology Discussion Piece


Dear all heres another discussion piece

Format of terminology

There has been some healthy debate on the format of terminologies that we
use.

It has highlighted a number of key issues that need to be considered. There
are a number of questions that require some consideration from really two
angles ...

The Data Standards experts (people like DSU, Leonard) and the users/content
providers.

For instance the standard may be that we use plurals for terms but is that
acceptable to those using the terminologies.  Or doesn't it matter?

There are a number of key questions that need to be considered .....

Do we use singular or plurals within terminology list?
Do we use capitals on terms in a list, a combination or neither?

Should there be a common accepted standard way of formatting terminology,
that can be clearly stated?

Should we be including the codes we use when we are coding a lookup. For
instance

SM would be the code for the description of Scheduled Monuments

Now the idea of standardisation of the codes against the descriptions allows
for SMR users to speak easily with one another and exchange information even
if they store the code in the data rather than a full description.

I would say that there are three main elements to any terminology list

1)      the structure
2)      the format
3)      the contents

All of these need to be carefully considered and maybe we should/need to see
them as a whole.... and be very clear what lists should contain, what they
should look like and how they are structured.

What do you think?


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