Which is the correct field for "Sir" ?

Question

Have found this Profile Error =  for SIR = in the error report - - -

723 Prefix in First Name

Primrose-8 H

Sir - Move to Prefix or Suffix

Sir Archibald Primrose 1st Bt aka Primrose of Carrington

It has been "corrected" from prefix, to precede the FNaB, as shown above, and therefore creates the 723 error message ? - -

I know Sir William is active in this area, so perhaps he can help us in this protocol comment please ? - -  cheers john.a

 

The 13th Aug E/Report has 39 errors (1700-1799yr range) with Sir in the FNaBirth field ! ! - ja

Comments

Sir is a prefix. I don't understand why the error report would suggest that it be treated as a suffix.

I have noticed a propensity for people to confuse the words "prefix" and "suffix," with the result that titles like "Sir" often end up in the suffix field, but that doesn't make it correct.

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- Depends on the protocol - - ja

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The instructions are generic "Move to Prefix or Suffix" because sometimes the suffix is the correct place for what needs to be moved out of the naming field.  I agree, the instructions could be a little clearer here, especially since the error is called "Prefix in First Name"

Answer 1

Complete.

Sir is now a prefix, rather than a part of the preferred Christian name.

Answer 2

Sir and Colonel and Rev, and Prof are all prefixes and should properly go in that field. However because the prefix field is generally not displayed, many people are including the prefix within FNAB, thereby triggering an error 723 which implicitly says maybe it should be in suffix. This possible transfer to either prefix or suffix is only correct in the case of Elder, which would be a suffix where it is used as a distinguisher between the elder and the younger (in terms of age) EG [(Orr-2372|William Orr the Elder], [Nairn-234|Nairn of Drumkilbo, the elder] or [Pitt-473|William Pitt the elder]) and a prefix when it is a religious "rank" (EG [Phillips-19776|Elder Phillips]). Sometimes these prefixes are put in Nicknames but this field also is rarely displayed and therefore has no use in distinguishing people. As Wikitree is now set up, the displaynames are absurd.

I would add that the suffixes KG KT Bt KBE GCMG etc all entitle the bearer to the prefix Sir and it is a solecism of the worst sort to display them without it.