Talk:Edward Nelson (marine biologist)

Don't be fooled!
It appears that the "W" has no period because it doesn't really stand for anything (like the "S" in "Harry S Truman")...would be interesting to know the story behind that.WQUlrich (talk) 22:21, 2 December 2009 (UTC)

PS: I hope this note doesn't start a Truman-like editing war, 'cause if you try to add a period, there's "already an article with that name" and if you try to take the "W" out there's "already an article with that name. Give up!WQUlrich (talk) 21:47, 4 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Appears to whom? Can you provide definitive substance to back up this lack of period? This page names him as Edward William Nelson, as does this one, citing Scott's Men (London, 1977). Several sources use the W with period: see National Portrait Gallery,, , There is another zoologist named Edward William Nelson (1855–1934), so this title may need further disambiguation. --Animalparty! (talk) 05:33, 15 December 2018 (UTC)
 * Wow! Nine years to get a response. I don't even remember this article now, and I was just beginning to learn how to edit when I made this page. In retrospect, it looks like someone was trying to distinguish between the two Edward William Nelsons and didn't know how to do it. So, do what you will! WQUlrich (talk) 05:42, 15 December 2018 (UTC)
 * No worries! I'll do some research this weekend to try to get some more definitive sources. Let me know what you think in nine years! --Animalparty! (talk) 06:48, 15 December 2018 (UTC)

Requested move 20 December 2018

 * The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this section. 

The result of the move request was: moved as requested per the discussion below. Dekimasu よ! 18:39, 27 December 2018 (UTC)

Edward W Nelson → Edward Nelson (marine biologist) – Disambiguation is needed. There are two biologists with the name "Edward William Nelson": this one (British) and the American Edward William Nelson (1855–1934). However, the American is much more widely known in print as "Edward William Nelson", while the middle name of this Nelson is very seldom spelled out in full (see discussion above). This Nelson is most commonly referred to in print as either E. W. Nelson, Edward Nelson, or Edward W. Nelson (see for instance his obituary in Nature, his mention in the USGS names database The more notable, more published American Nelson, however, is widely known by the middle name and initial see his obituary in The Auk, here, here, and listings in Databases and Google searches (the title pages of his first and second most widely held library holdings name him as "Edward William Nelson" and "Edward W. Nelson", respectively, and I'd argue his publications and prominence make the American Nelson the primary topic. Rather than a disruptive change to both articles, I think the British Nelson needs disambiguation, as the lack of a period is insufficient and incorrect. Another possible title for this article is Edward Nelson (British biologist), but I believe "marine biologist" is more straightforward, and obviates debates between "British" and "English". --Animalparty! (talk) 04:49, 20 December 2018 (UTC)
 * Support Edward Nelson (marine biologist). If we keep it at this title then the "W" clearly needs to have a full stop after it. -- Necrothesp (talk) 15:37, 20 December 2018 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page or in a move review. No further edits should be made to this section.