I'm just going by the name of the TV show [link] One can spell it how one wants, but it is only correct one way.
Who among us can ignore the allure of really funny math puns?
Willow ,'Empty Places'
Fan Fiction II: Great story! Where's the sequel?
This thread is for fanfic recs, links, and discussion, but not for actual posting of fanfic.
§ ita § - Sep 18, 2013 2:10:45 pm PDT #8713 of 10434
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Amy - Sep 18, 2013 2:14:16 pm PDT #8714 of 10434
Because books.
I'm pretty sure neither the Chicago Manual of Style or AP style would use the periods -- we don't anymore for things like USPS, etc.
Then again, the asterisks in M*A*S*H stuck around all those years.
Dana - Sep 18, 2013 2:24:16 pm PDT #8715 of 10434
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.
It's been a whole style guide fooferah. What about initialisms? What about M*A*S*H? What about the right of the internet to express itself any way it damn well wants?
DebetEsse - Sep 18, 2013 3:21:26 pm PDT #8716 of 10434
Woe to the fucking wicked.
What about the right of the internet to express itself any way it damn well wants?
As a denizen of Tumblr and a Tag Wrangler on AO3, I'm going to say that there's not a power in the 'verse that can stop the Internet from expressing itself any way it damn well wants.
§ ita § - Sep 18, 2013 4:15:10 pm PDT #8717 of 10434
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
What about the right of the internet to express itself any way it damn well wants?
If we don't stop them now...
Oh, fuck.
I'm pretty sure neither the Chicago Manual of Style or AP style would use the periods -- we don't anymore for things like USPS, etc.
If the USPS had branded themselves U.S.P.S., Chicago or AP wouldn't care?
Amy - Sep 18, 2013 4:22:21 pm PDT #8718 of 10434
Because books.
Punctuation isn't really part of a name unless it's a trademark. The USPS styles itself as the United States Post Office (its official name) -- USPS is just an abbreviation, and the different style guides outline how to deal with punctuating (and capitalizing, etc.) abbreviations like that.
The showrunners can style it however they want, in the end, but it's going to depend on individual media outlets when it comes to how it's actually used. And there's no guarantee they'll all agree, either.
For typesetting purposes, which doesn't really matter anymore, S.H.I.E.L.D. is a lot of extra characters. And it's also a pain in the ass to type!
§ ita § - Sep 18, 2013 4:48:15 pm PDT #8719 of 10434
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
The USPS styles itself as the United States Post Office (its official name)
The postal service calls themselves the USPS with some kind of registered/trade mark I can't read at this magnification all over their website, so they might not be the best example for style guides overriding the organisation's wishes.
It just seems weird to not call a show the show's name, especially in these advanced technological days of search and replace.
Amy - Sep 18, 2013 4:50:08 pm PDT #8720 of 10434
Because books.
The punctuation doesn't change the name, though. Not in my opinion, anyway. And honestly, like Consuela, if I'm writing about it, I'm not typing out all those periods.
But you can!
Connie Neil - Sep 18, 2013 4:58:46 pm PDT #8721 of 10434
brillig
I save my ire for the people who spell it Shield.
§ ita § - Sep 18, 2013 6:48:36 pm PDT #8722 of 10434
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
The punctuation doesn't change the name, though.
Why is ABC bothering to be consistent with branding, then?
I'm not saying everyone has to do it that way, precisely like I said at the start. But ABC seems to have taken a stance on the show's title, and it's odd to say there isn't a right answer just because you don't want to use it. And if I were writing an article it would be spell-checked just like any other brand. I don't get to call it Fedex in formal circles just because. The *right* answer is FedEx, and I take that into consideration when I make my choices.