[OSM-talk] automated abbreviation changes?!

[Lynn W. Deffenbaugh (Mr)]

On 3/23/2012 9:04 AM, Jean-Marc Liotier wrote:
> On 23/03/2012 13:47, Lynn W. Deffenbaugh (Mr) wrote:
>> On 3/23/2012 8:36 AM, Mikel Maron wrote:
>>> User chdr (http://www.openstreetmap.org/user/chdr) seems to be 
>>> running a script to automatically replace street name abbreviations 
>>> with the full word.
>>> so 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW becomes 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue 
>>> Northwest. Which is not the way anyone ever writes street names here 
>>> in DC.
>> IMHO, here in the US we have the USPS which has published 
>> standardized street naming conventions specifically using the 
>> abbreviations.  It would seem to me that these "official" street 
>> names are what should stick and the expansions of them should not be 
>> happening.  Not to mention how much more crowded the map labels would 
>> become.
> I'm new to this problem, but those possible strategies spring to my mind:
> - Record only the abbreviated name and let the user expand it using 
> his favourite rules if he wants.
> - Record only the canonical expanded name and let the user abbreviate 
> it using his favourite rules if he wants.
> - Record both the canonical expanded name and the abbreviated name, 
> let the user choose which one he wants.
>
> Would a name:abbreviated tag make sense ?
>
> Is the expanded name the canonical one ?

I'm not familiar enough with OSM or mapping terminology to know which is 
"canonical", but my address is:

USPS: 521 Waterman Ln SE
Full: 521 Waterman Lane SouthEast

But I've never, ever written it in the full form and even the 
city-supplied street sign shows "Waterman Ln".

Lynn (D) - KJ4ERJ

PS.  For non-US residents, USPS = United States Postal Service

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