Talk:Harry S. Truman/FAQ

This section is here to provide answers to some questions that have been previously discussed on this talk page.
Note: This FAQ is only here to let people know that these points have previously been addressed, not to prevent any further discussion of these issues.

To view an explanation to the answer, click the [show] link to the right of the question.

General Concerns and Questions

Q1: Should Truman's middle initial be written with a period after it? (Yes.)

A1:

Usage with or without the period can be viewed as correct. Truman did not have a middle name, only a middle initial but often signed his name with a period after the S. This is discussed within the article in the section Early life and career.

Q2: (Additional information on A1)

These formal style guides have been consulted:

• The Associated Press Stylebook: use "S"
• The Chicago Manual of Style: use "S."
• The MHRA Style Guide: no guidance
• The MLA Style Manual: no guidance
• The United States Government Printing Office Style Manual 2000: use "S."
• Related Talk discussions: [1], [2], [3], [4]

The original editor created the article as "Harry S. Truman" on August 23, 2001. The article has been stable with this title ever since. Per the Manual of Style "When either of two styles is acceptable, it is inappropriate for an editor to change an article from one style to another unless there is a substantial reason to do so."

Surprisingly, for a man of Truman's stature and given the nature of the events that he was involved in, the use of the period is the most discussed topic. See the talk page for current discussions and see the links at the top of the talk page for archived discussions.

Simply changing the "S." within the article will be reverted, as it will no longer match the article title.

To propose that the article be renamed, follow the instructions at requesting potentially controversial moves. Create the discussions as noted and give logical and compelling reasons for changing the article title along with supporting evidence.

The supporting article Bibliography of Harry S. Truman must also be considered.

As of the November 7, 2008 version,[5] there are only five instances where this could be changed:

• article title
• main infobox
• lead
• cabinet infobox
• photo caption

You cannot change the "S." where it is used in a quote or as a proper name. As of the November 7, 2008 version,[6]:

• There is a quote from Time and one from McCullough.
• Book titles used in the article text are Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Year of Decisions and Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Years of Trial and Hope.
• Proper names used in the article are:
  • Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs
  • President Harry S. Truman Fellowship in National Security Science and Engineering
  • Harry S. Truman Bridge
  • Harry S. Truman Farm Home
  • Harry S. Truman High School (Federal Way)
  • Harry S. Truman High School (Independence)
  • Harry S. Truman High School (Levittown)
  • Harry S. Truman High School (New York City)
  • Harry S. Truman Historic District
  • Harry S. Truman Little White House
  • Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital
  • Harry S. Truman National Historic Site
  • Harry S. Truman Parkway
  • Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum
  • Harry S. Truman Lake and Harry S. Truman Visitor Center
  • USS Harry S. Truman
• There are 23 uses in the references section.
• Also note the references listed in Bibliography of Harry S. Truman.

Q3: Are there any cases where the "S" without the period should be used? (Yes.)

A3: Yes, but only in two cases. Proper names used in the article are:

• Harry S Truman Building
• Harry S Truman College

Q4: Wasn't Truman in the KKK? (No.)

A4: According to biographer David McCullough, Truman paid a small membership fee in an effort to gain political support from members, but there is no reliable evidence that he was ever inducted or active. See details on this list of KKK members in US politics.