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Abbreviations
mi = miles
m = meters
yd = yards
junct. = junction
E (no periods)
S
W
N
Hwy = highway
I-10 = Interstate Highway 10
FM = Farm to Market
Bldg = building
Rte = route
Rd = road (if you are using the word "road" as in "down a dirt road", then do NOT abbreviate)
River (do NOT abbreviate "River")
Co = County
Co Rd = county road
intersection = intersection (no need to abbreviate as intersect. = intersection)
ca. = circa (approximately) - this is used simply because "ca." takes up less space on a label
trib. = tributary
for distance, always have at least 2 numbers NOTE: this method implies a higher level of accuracy within the data. For example: "a half mile" suggests that the collector was making a guess, whereas 0.5 miles seems more precise. You can use "ca. 0.5 mi" if you wish to suggest less precision. This standard is recommended only in that it keeps the data tidy (fewer duplicates) and easy to read. It may not be the best solution for other museum collections.
1.0 mi = 1 mile
0.5 mi = 1/2 mile. Do not use ".5"
12 mi = 12 miles. You don't need a decimal if you have at least two numbers
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If the specific locality is unknown, but you have other data:
ex: if no locality given, then the locality name is "no locality data"
ex: if all you have is Rusk County, TX, then locality name is "unknown locality, Rusk Co" (abbreviate county)
ex: if all you have is Texas, then the locality name is "unknown locality, TX" (abbreviate the state)
ex: if all you have is USA, then the locality name is "unknown locality, USA"
ex: if all you have is a foreign country, then the locality name is "unknown locality, Name of country (do not abbreviate)
a note on rivers: many rivers run through multiple counties and/or multiple states. It is best to create a name that gives more specific data.
ex: if verbatim data says Colorado River, Texas, then the locality name is "Colorado River, TX"
ex: if verbatim data says Colorado River, Travis Co, TX, then locality name is "Colorado River, Travis Co"
Don't just create a locality named "Colorado River"
It may seem redundant to have geography in the locality name, as well as in the geography section, but this keeps the locality names distinct within Specify.
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