Talk:R. R. Bowker

R.R. Bowker or R. R. Bowker
It looks like this article had been moved back and forth between the two names a couple of times, over a decade ago (2006 & 2007), but there hadn't ever been a discussion and therefore no consensus.

per MOS:INITIALS:

An initial is capitalized and is followed by a full point (period) and a space (e.g. J. R. R. Tolkien), unless:
 * the person demonstrably has a different, consistently preferred style for his or her own name; and
 * an overwhelming majority of reliable sources use that variant style for that person.

That MOS article refers to people, not companies, but the company name is derived from that of Richard Rogers Bowker, which seems to support the space.

I searched on archive.org to see how the company printed its name in its publications over the years, and found that they usually used a space:
 * 1930 https://archive.org/details/americanbookpric028322mbp/page/n21/search/bowker
 * 1955 https://archive.org/details/bannedbooksinfor00haig/page/n3/search/bowker
 * 1955 https://archive.org/details/librariesmuseums00mcco/page/n3/search/bowker
 * 1966 https://archive.org/details/copyrightguide0000pilp/page/n1/search/bowker
 * 1970 https://archive.org/details/civilrightscurre00adam/page/n7/search/bowker
 * 1970 https://archive.org/details/indextoyoungread0000silv/page/n5/search/bowker
 * 1970 https://archive.org/details/directoryofafroa00race/page/n5/search/bowker
 * 1980 https://archive.org/details/creatingprograms00clen/page/n5/search/bowker
 * 1980 https://archive.org/details/booksforgiftedch02bask/page/n5/search/bowker
 * 1990 https://archive.org/details/bestbooksforchil00gill/page/n5/search/bowker
 * 1990 https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinamerica0000unse_q6a8/page/n7/search/bowker

It wasn't a scientific study by any means, but I only found one example where there wasn't a space:
 * 1970 https://archive.org/details/talesofmelvilsmo0000dunk/page/n3/search/bowker

When I looked at publications not by Bowker, the company name was referenced both ways, with a space: and without:
 * https://archive.org/details/guidetoreference00dori/search/Bowker
 * https://archive.org/details/adventuringwithb00nati/search/Bowker
 * https://archive.org/details/analyzingfilmspr0000phil/search/Bowker
 * https://archive.org/details/purejoyofmakingm00dibl/search/Bowker
 * https://archive.org/details/occupationallite00forr/search/Bowker
 * https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780313293030/search/Bowker
 * https://archive.org/details/singleparentingh00reed/search/Bowker
 * https://archive.org/details/macintoshdesktop00baxt/search/Bowker
 * https://archive.org/details/romanticmovement0000unse/search/Bowker

I provide this additional information to paint as complete a picture as I can, based on what I was seeing.

Given the above, I propose renaming/moving the article to "R. R. Bowker" because:
 * 1) It's based on a person's name, and the space follows the MOS, and
 * 2) The company themselves generally use the space.

WikkanWitch (talk) 11:24, 19 March 2020 (UTC)


 * Nearly 3 months since this proposal was aired, and no further comments. WikkanWitch has since been blocked (for unrelated sockpuppetry). I find the arguments above persuasive, and again propose moving the article. I will let matters rest a few days to allow further comments before attempting to do so. GrindtXX (talk) 14:46, 12 June 2020 (UTC)
 * I have now moved the page. GrindtXX (talk) 12:44, 17 June 2020 (UTC)