birth-death range - person still alive











up vote
2
down vote

favorite












I am wondering if there exists a specific symbol or word I can use in a birth-death range. When I introduce a specific person in my main text, I use a footnote to provide the reader some additional information. I use the following syntax




Fullname, Birth--Death, Nationality Profession




Here is a example of a person who already died:




Peter Adam Baruch David Goldberg, 1923--1997, American actor




Now I want to introduce a person that has not yet deceased




Anna Maria von Hausdorff, 1988--???, Polish singer




Does there exist a symbol or an abbreviation to replace the ??? in this notion? Or can someone provide me with a best-practice method?










share|improve this question


















  • 2




    @EdwinAshworth To clarify, you mean (e.g.) "1923 - ".
    – Matt Gutting
    Dec 23 '14 at 19:41










  • ... That is correct.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Dec 24 '14 at 0:03












  • If you have any pretensions to writing, and this is suggested by your question, never use "--". This is not English punctuation, but a typwriter or text-only substitute for a print en dash. Find out how to obtain one in the operating system you use. On my Mac I can use the option (alt) key and the hyphen key. On more modern Macs or the iPhone I just hold the hyphen key down and get a choice. On Windows or Android it must be possible — Google for it.
    – David
    Apr 23 at 22:22










  • @MattGutting — Whether or not it is the answer to the question, "1923 - " is incorrect. It should be "1923–" — en dash and no space after the first date.
    – David
    Apr 23 at 22:25

















up vote
2
down vote

favorite












I am wondering if there exists a specific symbol or word I can use in a birth-death range. When I introduce a specific person in my main text, I use a footnote to provide the reader some additional information. I use the following syntax




Fullname, Birth--Death, Nationality Profession




Here is a example of a person who already died:




Peter Adam Baruch David Goldberg, 1923--1997, American actor




Now I want to introduce a person that has not yet deceased




Anna Maria von Hausdorff, 1988--???, Polish singer




Does there exist a symbol or an abbreviation to replace the ??? in this notion? Or can someone provide me with a best-practice method?










share|improve this question


















  • 2




    @EdwinAshworth To clarify, you mean (e.g.) "1923 - ".
    – Matt Gutting
    Dec 23 '14 at 19:41










  • ... That is correct.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Dec 24 '14 at 0:03












  • If you have any pretensions to writing, and this is suggested by your question, never use "--". This is not English punctuation, but a typwriter or text-only substitute for a print en dash. Find out how to obtain one in the operating system you use. On my Mac I can use the option (alt) key and the hyphen key. On more modern Macs or the iPhone I just hold the hyphen key down and get a choice. On Windows or Android it must be possible — Google for it.
    – David
    Apr 23 at 22:22










  • @MattGutting — Whether or not it is the answer to the question, "1923 - " is incorrect. It should be "1923–" — en dash and no space after the first date.
    – David
    Apr 23 at 22:25















up vote
2
down vote

favorite









up vote
2
down vote

favorite











I am wondering if there exists a specific symbol or word I can use in a birth-death range. When I introduce a specific person in my main text, I use a footnote to provide the reader some additional information. I use the following syntax




Fullname, Birth--Death, Nationality Profession




Here is a example of a person who already died:




Peter Adam Baruch David Goldberg, 1923--1997, American actor




Now I want to introduce a person that has not yet deceased




Anna Maria von Hausdorff, 1988--???, Polish singer




Does there exist a symbol or an abbreviation to replace the ??? in this notion? Or can someone provide me with a best-practice method?










share|improve this question













I am wondering if there exists a specific symbol or word I can use in a birth-death range. When I introduce a specific person in my main text, I use a footnote to provide the reader some additional information. I use the following syntax




Fullname, Birth--Death, Nationality Profession




Here is a example of a person who already died:




Peter Adam Baruch David Goldberg, 1923--1997, American actor




Now I want to introduce a person that has not yet deceased




Anna Maria von Hausdorff, 1988--???, Polish singer




Does there exist a symbol or an abbreviation to replace the ??? in this notion? Or can someone provide me with a best-practice method?







abbreviations dates symbols






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Dec 23 '14 at 19:30









Peter

17235




17235








  • 2




    @EdwinAshworth To clarify, you mean (e.g.) "1923 - ".
    – Matt Gutting
    Dec 23 '14 at 19:41










  • ... That is correct.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Dec 24 '14 at 0:03












  • If you have any pretensions to writing, and this is suggested by your question, never use "--". This is not English punctuation, but a typwriter or text-only substitute for a print en dash. Find out how to obtain one in the operating system you use. On my Mac I can use the option (alt) key and the hyphen key. On more modern Macs or the iPhone I just hold the hyphen key down and get a choice. On Windows or Android it must be possible — Google for it.
    – David
    Apr 23 at 22:22










  • @MattGutting — Whether or not it is the answer to the question, "1923 - " is incorrect. It should be "1923–" — en dash and no space after the first date.
    – David
    Apr 23 at 22:25
















  • 2




    @EdwinAshworth To clarify, you mean (e.g.) "1923 - ".
    – Matt Gutting
    Dec 23 '14 at 19:41










  • ... That is correct.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Dec 24 '14 at 0:03












  • If you have any pretensions to writing, and this is suggested by your question, never use "--". This is not English punctuation, but a typwriter or text-only substitute for a print en dash. Find out how to obtain one in the operating system you use. On my Mac I can use the option (alt) key and the hyphen key. On more modern Macs or the iPhone I just hold the hyphen key down and get a choice. On Windows or Android it must be possible — Google for it.
    – David
    Apr 23 at 22:22










  • @MattGutting — Whether or not it is the answer to the question, "1923 - " is incorrect. It should be "1923–" — en dash and no space after the first date.
    – David
    Apr 23 at 22:25










2




2




@EdwinAshworth To clarify, you mean (e.g.) "1923 - ".
– Matt Gutting
Dec 23 '14 at 19:41




@EdwinAshworth To clarify, you mean (e.g.) "1923 - ".
– Matt Gutting
Dec 23 '14 at 19:41












... That is correct.
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 24 '14 at 0:03






... That is correct.
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 24 '14 at 0:03














If you have any pretensions to writing, and this is suggested by your question, never use "--". This is not English punctuation, but a typwriter or text-only substitute for a print en dash. Find out how to obtain one in the operating system you use. On my Mac I can use the option (alt) key and the hyphen key. On more modern Macs or the iPhone I just hold the hyphen key down and get a choice. On Windows or Android it must be possible — Google for it.
– David
Apr 23 at 22:22




If you have any pretensions to writing, and this is suggested by your question, never use "--". This is not English punctuation, but a typwriter or text-only substitute for a print en dash. Find out how to obtain one in the operating system you use. On my Mac I can use the option (alt) key and the hyphen key. On more modern Macs or the iPhone I just hold the hyphen key down and get a choice. On Windows or Android it must be possible — Google for it.
– David
Apr 23 at 22:22












@MattGutting — Whether or not it is the answer to the question, "1923 - " is incorrect. It should be "1923–" — en dash and no space after the first date.
– David
Apr 23 at 22:25






@MattGutting — Whether or not it is the answer to the question, "1923 - " is incorrect. It should be "1923–" — en dash and no space after the first date.
– David
Apr 23 at 22:25












4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
4
down vote



accepted










For a person for whom both dates are known, use the form “1923–2003” (preferably, per CMS, with an en dash, not hyphen, double hyphen, or em dash); for one still living, just write “b. 1923.”






share|improve this answer





















  • What's "CMS"? would you mind quoting the relevant information?
    – Matt Gutting
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:21






  • 3




    Chicago Manual of Style. My copies are both at work, and it's not on the Web, but back when I copy-edited for SUNY Press I learned that rule solidly, even though I cannot quote CMS on the subject from memory. MLA (Modern Language Association) seems to use hyphens for number ranges in their own style manual, but that manual does not explicitly address the issue of which mark to use.
    – Brian Donovan
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:29




















up vote
1
down vote













For a person still alive you write (1955-); for a person who has died you write (1955-2012). Make sure you don't put spaces around your hyphen. Their dates should count as one word only in your essay count. (Source: I'm a uni student and have written a few essays by now).



Now I'd like to know what you put if you can't find their year of birth anywhere online or in books! (N.d.) or what?? :(






share|improve this answer





















  • This is the place for considered and substantiated answers not further questions. And welcome to EL&U.
    – Nigel J
    Apr 23 at 21:21










  • @bouchra ~ Welcome to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange! Thanks for taking the time to contribute an answer. It’s because of helpful peers like yourself that we’re able to learn together as a community. Here are a few tips on how to make your answer great: english.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-answer
    – Bread
    Apr 23 at 22:39


















up vote
0
down vote













Are we required to provide the date of birth and death everytime we mention the person in a paper?






share|improve this answer








New contributor




Salwa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.














  • 1




    This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review
    – tmgr
    26 mins ago


















up vote
-2
down vote













I would want to replace the '???' because this implies that the person's date of death is unknown. Certainly, if they haven't died, this statement is true, but it implies that they have died and we just don't know when.



I would opt to use '1988-Present.' Google a date-present, e.g. "1958-present" and you'll see this format is used to tell the history of organizations which began in 1958 and are still in operation today. It doesn't mean they died at the present moment, or time of writing - I really don't think it's read in that way.



Wikipedia avoids this issue for biographical pages by having a "Born" subsection within the fact sheet; i.e. it does not use the date-date convention. But in other contexts, for example this band, the "years present" is listed as "1988-present": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Jones



Hope this helps.






share|improve this answer

















  • 3




    Your first paragraph is entirely correct, but your second is well off target. It is not used for living people, precisely because it would mean 'Died just now'.
    – TimLymington
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:19











Your Answer








StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});

function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});


}
});














draft saved

draft discarded


















StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f216570%2fbirth-death-range-person-still-alive%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown

























4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes








4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
4
down vote



accepted










For a person for whom both dates are known, use the form “1923–2003” (preferably, per CMS, with an en dash, not hyphen, double hyphen, or em dash); for one still living, just write “b. 1923.”






share|improve this answer





















  • What's "CMS"? would you mind quoting the relevant information?
    – Matt Gutting
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:21






  • 3




    Chicago Manual of Style. My copies are both at work, and it's not on the Web, but back when I copy-edited for SUNY Press I learned that rule solidly, even though I cannot quote CMS on the subject from memory. MLA (Modern Language Association) seems to use hyphens for number ranges in their own style manual, but that manual does not explicitly address the issue of which mark to use.
    – Brian Donovan
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:29

















up vote
4
down vote



accepted










For a person for whom both dates are known, use the form “1923–2003” (preferably, per CMS, with an en dash, not hyphen, double hyphen, or em dash); for one still living, just write “b. 1923.”






share|improve this answer





















  • What's "CMS"? would you mind quoting the relevant information?
    – Matt Gutting
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:21






  • 3




    Chicago Manual of Style. My copies are both at work, and it's not on the Web, but back when I copy-edited for SUNY Press I learned that rule solidly, even though I cannot quote CMS on the subject from memory. MLA (Modern Language Association) seems to use hyphens for number ranges in their own style manual, but that manual does not explicitly address the issue of which mark to use.
    – Brian Donovan
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:29















up vote
4
down vote



accepted







up vote
4
down vote



accepted






For a person for whom both dates are known, use the form “1923–2003” (preferably, per CMS, with an en dash, not hyphen, double hyphen, or em dash); for one still living, just write “b. 1923.”






share|improve this answer












For a person for whom both dates are known, use the form “1923–2003” (preferably, per CMS, with an en dash, not hyphen, double hyphen, or em dash); for one still living, just write “b. 1923.”







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Dec 23 '14 at 20:14









Brian Donovan

13.5k12459




13.5k12459












  • What's "CMS"? would you mind quoting the relevant information?
    – Matt Gutting
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:21






  • 3




    Chicago Manual of Style. My copies are both at work, and it's not on the Web, but back when I copy-edited for SUNY Press I learned that rule solidly, even though I cannot quote CMS on the subject from memory. MLA (Modern Language Association) seems to use hyphens for number ranges in their own style manual, but that manual does not explicitly address the issue of which mark to use.
    – Brian Donovan
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:29




















  • What's "CMS"? would you mind quoting the relevant information?
    – Matt Gutting
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:21






  • 3




    Chicago Manual of Style. My copies are both at work, and it's not on the Web, but back when I copy-edited for SUNY Press I learned that rule solidly, even though I cannot quote CMS on the subject from memory. MLA (Modern Language Association) seems to use hyphens for number ranges in their own style manual, but that manual does not explicitly address the issue of which mark to use.
    – Brian Donovan
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:29


















What's "CMS"? would you mind quoting the relevant information?
– Matt Gutting
Dec 23 '14 at 20:21




What's "CMS"? would you mind quoting the relevant information?
– Matt Gutting
Dec 23 '14 at 20:21




3




3




Chicago Manual of Style. My copies are both at work, and it's not on the Web, but back when I copy-edited for SUNY Press I learned that rule solidly, even though I cannot quote CMS on the subject from memory. MLA (Modern Language Association) seems to use hyphens for number ranges in their own style manual, but that manual does not explicitly address the issue of which mark to use.
– Brian Donovan
Dec 23 '14 at 20:29






Chicago Manual of Style. My copies are both at work, and it's not on the Web, but back when I copy-edited for SUNY Press I learned that rule solidly, even though I cannot quote CMS on the subject from memory. MLA (Modern Language Association) seems to use hyphens for number ranges in their own style manual, but that manual does not explicitly address the issue of which mark to use.
– Brian Donovan
Dec 23 '14 at 20:29














up vote
1
down vote













For a person still alive you write (1955-); for a person who has died you write (1955-2012). Make sure you don't put spaces around your hyphen. Their dates should count as one word only in your essay count. (Source: I'm a uni student and have written a few essays by now).



Now I'd like to know what you put if you can't find their year of birth anywhere online or in books! (N.d.) or what?? :(






share|improve this answer





















  • This is the place for considered and substantiated answers not further questions. And welcome to EL&U.
    – Nigel J
    Apr 23 at 21:21










  • @bouchra ~ Welcome to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange! Thanks for taking the time to contribute an answer. It’s because of helpful peers like yourself that we’re able to learn together as a community. Here are a few tips on how to make your answer great: english.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-answer
    – Bread
    Apr 23 at 22:39















up vote
1
down vote













For a person still alive you write (1955-); for a person who has died you write (1955-2012). Make sure you don't put spaces around your hyphen. Their dates should count as one word only in your essay count. (Source: I'm a uni student and have written a few essays by now).



Now I'd like to know what you put if you can't find their year of birth anywhere online or in books! (N.d.) or what?? :(






share|improve this answer





















  • This is the place for considered and substantiated answers not further questions. And welcome to EL&U.
    – Nigel J
    Apr 23 at 21:21










  • @bouchra ~ Welcome to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange! Thanks for taking the time to contribute an answer. It’s because of helpful peers like yourself that we’re able to learn together as a community. Here are a few tips on how to make your answer great: english.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-answer
    – Bread
    Apr 23 at 22:39













up vote
1
down vote










up vote
1
down vote









For a person still alive you write (1955-); for a person who has died you write (1955-2012). Make sure you don't put spaces around your hyphen. Their dates should count as one word only in your essay count. (Source: I'm a uni student and have written a few essays by now).



Now I'd like to know what you put if you can't find their year of birth anywhere online or in books! (N.d.) or what?? :(






share|improve this answer












For a person still alive you write (1955-); for a person who has died you write (1955-2012). Make sure you don't put spaces around your hyphen. Their dates should count as one word only in your essay count. (Source: I'm a uni student and have written a few essays by now).



Now I'd like to know what you put if you can't find their year of birth anywhere online or in books! (N.d.) or what?? :(







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Apr 23 at 21:06









bouchra

111




111












  • This is the place for considered and substantiated answers not further questions. And welcome to EL&U.
    – Nigel J
    Apr 23 at 21:21










  • @bouchra ~ Welcome to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange! Thanks for taking the time to contribute an answer. It’s because of helpful peers like yourself that we’re able to learn together as a community. Here are a few tips on how to make your answer great: english.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-answer
    – Bread
    Apr 23 at 22:39


















  • This is the place for considered and substantiated answers not further questions. And welcome to EL&U.
    – Nigel J
    Apr 23 at 21:21










  • @bouchra ~ Welcome to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange! Thanks for taking the time to contribute an answer. It’s because of helpful peers like yourself that we’re able to learn together as a community. Here are a few tips on how to make your answer great: english.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-answer
    – Bread
    Apr 23 at 22:39
















This is the place for considered and substantiated answers not further questions. And welcome to EL&U.
– Nigel J
Apr 23 at 21:21




This is the place for considered and substantiated answers not further questions. And welcome to EL&U.
– Nigel J
Apr 23 at 21:21












@bouchra ~ Welcome to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange! Thanks for taking the time to contribute an answer. It’s because of helpful peers like yourself that we’re able to learn together as a community. Here are a few tips on how to make your answer great: english.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-answer
– Bread
Apr 23 at 22:39




@bouchra ~ Welcome to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange! Thanks for taking the time to contribute an answer. It’s because of helpful peers like yourself that we’re able to learn together as a community. Here are a few tips on how to make your answer great: english.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-answer
– Bread
Apr 23 at 22:39










up vote
0
down vote













Are we required to provide the date of birth and death everytime we mention the person in a paper?






share|improve this answer








New contributor




Salwa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.














  • 1




    This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review
    – tmgr
    26 mins ago















up vote
0
down vote













Are we required to provide the date of birth and death everytime we mention the person in a paper?






share|improve this answer








New contributor




Salwa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.














  • 1




    This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review
    – tmgr
    26 mins ago













up vote
0
down vote










up vote
0
down vote









Are we required to provide the date of birth and death everytime we mention the person in a paper?






share|improve this answer








New contributor




Salwa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









Are we required to provide the date of birth and death everytime we mention the person in a paper?







share|improve this answer








New contributor




Salwa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer






New contributor




Salwa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









answered 1 hour ago









Salwa

1




1




New contributor




Salwa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Salwa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Salwa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 1




    This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review
    – tmgr
    26 mins ago














  • 1




    This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review
    – tmgr
    26 mins ago








1




1




This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review
– tmgr
26 mins ago




This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review
– tmgr
26 mins ago










up vote
-2
down vote













I would want to replace the '???' because this implies that the person's date of death is unknown. Certainly, if they haven't died, this statement is true, but it implies that they have died and we just don't know when.



I would opt to use '1988-Present.' Google a date-present, e.g. "1958-present" and you'll see this format is used to tell the history of organizations which began in 1958 and are still in operation today. It doesn't mean they died at the present moment, or time of writing - I really don't think it's read in that way.



Wikipedia avoids this issue for biographical pages by having a "Born" subsection within the fact sheet; i.e. it does not use the date-date convention. But in other contexts, for example this band, the "years present" is listed as "1988-present": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Jones



Hope this helps.






share|improve this answer

















  • 3




    Your first paragraph is entirely correct, but your second is well off target. It is not used for living people, precisely because it would mean 'Died just now'.
    – TimLymington
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:19















up vote
-2
down vote













I would want to replace the '???' because this implies that the person's date of death is unknown. Certainly, if they haven't died, this statement is true, but it implies that they have died and we just don't know when.



I would opt to use '1988-Present.' Google a date-present, e.g. "1958-present" and you'll see this format is used to tell the history of organizations which began in 1958 and are still in operation today. It doesn't mean they died at the present moment, or time of writing - I really don't think it's read in that way.



Wikipedia avoids this issue for biographical pages by having a "Born" subsection within the fact sheet; i.e. it does not use the date-date convention. But in other contexts, for example this band, the "years present" is listed as "1988-present": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Jones



Hope this helps.






share|improve this answer

















  • 3




    Your first paragraph is entirely correct, but your second is well off target. It is not used for living people, precisely because it would mean 'Died just now'.
    – TimLymington
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:19













up vote
-2
down vote










up vote
-2
down vote









I would want to replace the '???' because this implies that the person's date of death is unknown. Certainly, if they haven't died, this statement is true, but it implies that they have died and we just don't know when.



I would opt to use '1988-Present.' Google a date-present, e.g. "1958-present" and you'll see this format is used to tell the history of organizations which began in 1958 and are still in operation today. It doesn't mean they died at the present moment, or time of writing - I really don't think it's read in that way.



Wikipedia avoids this issue for biographical pages by having a "Born" subsection within the fact sheet; i.e. it does not use the date-date convention. But in other contexts, for example this band, the "years present" is listed as "1988-present": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Jones



Hope this helps.






share|improve this answer












I would want to replace the '???' because this implies that the person's date of death is unknown. Certainly, if they haven't died, this statement is true, but it implies that they have died and we just don't know when.



I would opt to use '1988-Present.' Google a date-present, e.g. "1958-present" and you'll see this format is used to tell the history of organizations which began in 1958 and are still in operation today. It doesn't mean they died at the present moment, or time of writing - I really don't think it's read in that way.



Wikipedia avoids this issue for biographical pages by having a "Born" subsection within the fact sheet; i.e. it does not use the date-date convention. But in other contexts, for example this band, the "years present" is listed as "1988-present": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Jones



Hope this helps.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Dec 23 '14 at 19:41









agmyles

272




272








  • 3




    Your first paragraph is entirely correct, but your second is well off target. It is not used for living people, precisely because it would mean 'Died just now'.
    – TimLymington
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:19














  • 3




    Your first paragraph is entirely correct, but your second is well off target. It is not used for living people, precisely because it would mean 'Died just now'.
    – TimLymington
    Dec 23 '14 at 20:19








3




3




Your first paragraph is entirely correct, but your second is well off target. It is not used for living people, precisely because it would mean 'Died just now'.
– TimLymington
Dec 23 '14 at 20:19




Your first paragraph is entirely correct, but your second is well off target. It is not used for living people, precisely because it would mean 'Died just now'.
– TimLymington
Dec 23 '14 at 20:19


















draft saved

draft discarded




















































Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!


  • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid



  • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

  • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


  • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid



  • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

  • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




draft saved


draft discarded














StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f216570%2fbirth-death-range-person-still-alive%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown





















































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown

































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown







Popular posts from this blog

What visual should I use to simply compare current year value vs last year in Power BI desktop

Alexandru Averescu

Trompette piccolo