Talk:Electoral district of Maitland

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Year ranges

WP:YEAR states, "Year ranges, like all ranges, are separated by an en dash, not a hyphen or slash: 2005–06 is a two-year range, whereas 2005/06 is a period of twelve months or less such as a sports season or a financial year. A closing CE or AD year is normally written with two digits (1881–86) unless it is in a different century from that of the opening year (1881–1986)." While it does go on to say the full closing year is acceptable, there's obviously a preference for two digit closing years. This edit that partially reverted this one, the edit summary for which explained the change to year ranges, was unnecessary. Wherever possible we should comply with the preferred method specified by the MOS and there's no reason that we can't here. --AussieLegend (talk) 02:59, 24 February 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I think you're misreading the guideline. It explicitly says that the full closing year is fine by the guidelines. Since this standard is used in literally thousands of politics articles, changing it on one page is hardly helpful. Furthermore closing with two digits works fine within text, but in tables it begins to look messy and asymmetrical. However, I think the discussion is probably one that needs to be had, so I'm moving this to WT:AUP to get a broader range of opinions. Frickeg (talk) 06:34, 24 February 2010 (UTC)[reply]

"Acceptable" does not mean "fine". It means it's OK but there is a better way. If a four digit year was "fine" then the wording would be something along the lines of "A closing CE or AD year is normally written either with two digits or as a full year." It isn't and clearly states a preference for a 2 digit closing year. Saying that it is "acceptable" is not giving a four digit year equal preference with a two digit year. It's saying that it's adequate, that it's OK to do so, but there is a preferred option. Arguing that other articles use four digit years is really in the realm of WP:OTHERSTUFFEXISTS. We should follow the preference stated by the MOS. --AussieLegend (talk) 07:44, 24 February 2010 (UTC)[reply]