Hyphenated last name (Question)

xaeniac

Golden Member
Feb 4, 2005
1,641
14
81
how do you verbally address someone with a hyphenated last name.

For example:
Jennifer Green-Young

Ms. Young?
 

HamburgerBoy

Lifer
Apr 12, 2004
27,111
318
126
By default, obviously both. I do know at least one guy that goes by the last of the two, however, so maybe that is common as well.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
26,066
4,712
126
The correct way is to pretend the hyphen isn't there. You say both parts of the last name. You sort/alphabetize by the first part of the last name. You fool computers by not typing the hyphen (since they usually don't accept hyphens on computerized forms).

For all useful purposes that person is Jennifer GreenYoung. Except of course to her the hyphen matters. But for you, ignore it.
 
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Murloc

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2008
5,382
65
91
I just say: Green Young. Same if the person has 2 surnames (no hyphen between them). I think it's pretty standard. In this area most people just has one surname though.
 

Colt45

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
19,720
1
0
pick one, it doesn't matter which.

Never say both, as it may make them think that having two last names is acceptable.

Then they'll marry people with two last names, and have kids with four last names. fuck that.
 

nickbits

Diamond Member
Mar 10, 2008
4,122
1
81
pick one, it doesn't matter which.

Never say both, as it may make them think that having two last names is acceptable.

Then they'll marry people with two last names, and have kids with four last names. fuck that.

Pretty much. I told my wife I don't care if you change your name or not but please don't hyphenate it.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,641
13,821
126
www.anyf.ca
God damn it, hyphenated names piss me off. Why the fuck do you need 3 names?! You are not special!

Well in return, they get a ridiculously long username to login with every single day at work. :awe: Think you're so special now eh, well here is your 26 character username. :biggrin:

Actually not sure what is normally the best practice for that, when I was a system admin I'd just put the whole thing. lol
 

Quantos

Senior member
Dec 23, 2011
386
0
76
It's the most annoying thing in the world. I have an hyphenated surname and it's really an annoying thing.

The way I manage this is to pretend I have only one surname unless both are really required. Thus, both surnames only appear in official documentation like government records and the like.

I'd say the default stance of the people who are presented with both surnames will be to say both, rather than one of the two. However, since I pretty much only use one, they will adjust over time and use that one.
 

Broheim

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2011
4,587
3
81
Well in return, they get a ridiculously long username to login with every single day at work. :awe: Think you're so special now eh, well here is your 26 character username. :biggrin:

Actually not sure what is normally the best practice for that, when I was a system admin I'd just put the whole thing. lol

initials are superior


also, don't you use middle names in 'murica?
 

Tweak155

Lifer
Sep 23, 2003
11,449
264
126
I had a teacher named P'Simer, she shortened it from Pickle-Simer. Everyone called her Mrs P Simer.
 

randomrogue

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2011
5,449
0
0
Hyphenated names imply a weak person. I don't associate with weak people. I call them "minion" if I'm forced to interact with them.