TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN/INTEREST

Reason to read from left is due to the structure and formation of English Language sentences (the way parts of speech are placed, the sequence). However an individual’s legal name is not an English language sentence, It is data stored in computers/databases in fields. Therefore different rules apply to read a name. Some times it makes sense to read a name from left to right, sometimes from right to left (if written/printed using comma format of the name), sometimes top to bottom, sometimes bottom up (depending on where some one’s given name was placed in the sequence or the format). It is very important to maintain the correct sequence/integrity of the data. Name is Data. Reading from left is a rule for sentences written in English language due to the structure of the sentences. An individual’s legal name is data and only rule for names, to remain valid and correct is to say first (given) name first and than the last (family) name, in most languages/cultures/countries, no matter in what format name was written/printed or shown on displays etc. Also the format of an individual’s legal name must match with one of the IDs in all details, including commas and dashes etc.

Recently when I was talking to a librarian in Ottawa at a library nearby, he mentioned about some previous knowledge to be able to decide which name should be first and which name should be last. My response was that it is very simple, first name and last name is established in the data base fields in the computer at the time of creating one’s record, after the record was created some of the fields of the record might change such as address etc. and some of the fields remain fixed and never change such as name, date of birth, gender etc.

Published by

{Khalid Mahmood}

M01684340561220

Ph:(289)990-6590//(613)413-9812

1909 Russell Rd., Apt 307,

Ottawa Ontario Canada K1G3P2