[Bug 24281] New: Use of <cite> with abbreviated citation forms

https://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=24281

            Bug ID: 24281
           Summary: Use of <cite> with abbreviated citation forms
           Product: HTML WG
           Version: unspecified
          Hardware: PC
                OS: Windows XP
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P2
         Component: HTML5 spec
          Assignee: dave.null@w3.org
          Reporter: edward.bryant@gmail.com
        QA Contact: public-html-bugzilla@w3.org
                CC: mike@w3.org, public-html-admin@w3.org,
                    public-html-wg-issue-tracking@w3.org

I think some clarification is needed for the spec's restrictions on the use of
<cite>. This request stems from a brief discussion with Steve Faulkner in the
comments @ HTML5Doctor.com (
http://html5doctor.com/cite-and-blockquote-reloaded/#comment-43431 )  

According to the spec:

"It must include the title of the work or the name of the author(person, people
or organization) or an URL reference, which may be in an abbreviated form as
per the conventions used for the addition of citation metadata."

This appears to indicate that use of <cite> with abbreviated citation forms is
valid (as Steve Faulkner asserted). However, there are many abbreviated
citation forms which do not include the title of the work, author, or a URL
reference, as also seems to be required. Examples include:

abbreviated cite with author:

“See, Miller, supra, p. 2″  

abbreviated cite examples without a title, author, or a URL reference:

"See Ibid 35″
“See also, id at Chap. 10″

These types of abbreviated citation forms (which are common in scholarly and
legal documents) are often used where the same source is cited multiple times
in a row within a work and the reader can look at first cite for the full
citation (which would very likely include a title, author, or a URL reference).

The spec definition, as I read it, seems to say that abbreviated forms are
valid but also seems to require that they must still include a title, author,
or a URL reference. As a result, it is unclear if <cite> can be used with this
type of citation.

I would prefer to see the spec explicitly allow abbreviated or shortened
citation forms even if they do not include a title, author, or a URL reference.

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Received on Monday, 13 January 2014 19:10:49 UTC