Do we or don't we need quotation marks in a named ref?

Question

I recently heard that if a named reference isn't included in quotation marks then it will generate a db_error.

1. Is this true?
2. named references seem to work with or without quotation marks, so if it is true, why is there such an error?

I've got project volunteers using both approaches and I need to know how to advise them. 

Thanks.

Comments

Jillaine, I think if there are spaces in the ref name then quote marks are needed. If there are no spaces then the quote marks are optional. For example, "Find A Grave" would need quote marks but FindAGrave would not. That has been my experience.

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That's been my experience as well.

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If quotes are used, make sure they are not the curly 'smart' quotes from Word documents, or you will get DBE 871 Use of angled double quotes in name of citation.

Answer 1

Technically, quotation marks are not needed as long as you don't use spaces or special characters like " ' ` = < or >.

Practically, using quotes increases readability. Using them consistently can head off the accidental error that will occur if you use those special characters.

Answer 2

I've used them without for awhile now with no errors generated

the only named inline citation error is when the original named citation is missing. In other words someone put <ref name=citation /> without having <ref name=citation>this is the example original citation</ref> somewhere in the text

• DBE_870 Missing named Inline citations: Profile is using named inline reference "<ref name="SomeName" />", that is not defined by "<ref name="SomeName">"..."</ref>".

Comments

Also, DBE 869 Duplicated named inline citations when the same ref name is defined multiple times.  

Profile is defining the inline citation by "<ref name="SomeName">"..."</ref>" multiple times instead of using  "<ref name="SomeName" />" on the subsequent usages.

Answer 3

I've used them without for a while - my typical <ref name=xxxx> is short, usually no more than 5 characters..

rsl