3

Sometimes, I find necessary, predominantly in a comment, to give some users name and refer to a solution that user has made, which could be helpful in post under consideration too.

I am unsure, how to markup the other's name properly.

For example, if there is a user called 'GandalfTheGray', what would be a good way to refer to her/him, e.g.

In his example, user

  • GandalfTheGray
  • GandalfTheGray
  • GandalfTheGray
  • [GandalfTheGray]
  • "GandalfTheGray"
  • GandalfTheGray
  • {GandalfTheGray}

shows/comments/hints .... etc.

Are there some other markup possibilities? I personally find the bold version too strong, and the slanted version too weak, my favorite is GandalfTheGray.

What do you think?

This is no question on a feature-request, just my personal interest to make references to other people more outstanding in a post/comment.

4
  • 2
    You could also link the corresponding user profile: Christian Hupfer
    – Johannes_B
    Commented Jul 20, 2014 at 15:03
  • @Johannes_B: Yes, that is a possibility, I was also thinking about that, but on the other hand, the profile is in this case not that important, isn't it?
    – user31729
    Commented Jul 20, 2014 at 15:09
  • 1
    ok, right; if you want to link to a special solution, you can also link the answer itself: Answer by CH
    – Johannes_B
    Commented Jul 20, 2014 at 15:12
  • @Johannes_B: Ok, a direct link to some answer with the correct anchor, that could do ;-)
    – user31729
    Commented Jul 20, 2014 at 15:13

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5

I would leave it as just plain unformatted text. Personally, I don't consider it necessary (or particularly useful) to distinguish names from the surrounding text with formatting; it's already clear from the context what the display name is. The only exception is, in a comment (not a question or answer), when I want to notify that user, if they have left a previous comment and are thus eligible for notification, then I will use @GandalfTheGray.

When I want to reference another user's contribution, I will link to that post directly. For example:

Christian Hupfer posted a good question about markup for usernames

If one wants to access the poster's profile, they can click through to the post and then to the profile.

So that this is not merely a statement of opinion: in posts I see other people make, display names are very rarely formatted any differently than the surrounding text.

You must log in to answer this question.