I tried asking this earlier in a blip, but I didn't get a definitive response.

Is there a preferred format for character tags?

_{* when you know the character's first name, last name, and owner.}

The most common formats are:

• <forename> \[krystal; toriel]
• <forename>_<surname> \[fox_mccloud; asgore_dreemurr]
• <forename>_<owner> \[freddy_(fnaf); sevv_(fluffyquiche)]
• <forename>_(character) \[vapor_(character); rika_(character)]
• <prefix>_<surname> \[mrs._otterton; mrs_brisby]

In my opinion, the *_(character) format should be avoided, as it gives no additional information about the character. And even worse, *_(character) tags are sometimes used to tag several different characters.

While I'm asking, should prefixes include a period (mr., mrs., ms.) or not (mr, mrs, ms)?

_{The specific case that made me question this was jynx_prowler vs. jynx_(krisprowler).}

I don't think it's possible to have a standard format that'll cover every possible character, so I think it'll (sadly) have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

is, in my opinion, the most desirable for a character tag. <forename>_(<owner>) is probably the best in cases where only the first name of the character is known, unless the character's name is substantially unique enough to just use <forename>.

is good in cases where there's going to be a conflict due to the character having the same name as the artist that created it, or being the eponymous character of a series. rika_(character) and spider-man_(character) look a whole lot better and are much less ambigious than rika_(rika) and spider-man_(spider-man).

isn't brilliant, but if it's either the primary name for the character or there's no other name information to go by, it should be fine. Periods in the prefixes appear to be standard in US English, so I would support using them.

Tuvalu said:
I don't think it's possible to have a standard format that'll cover every possible character, so I think it'll (sadly) have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

<forename>_<surname>

is, in my opinion, the most desirable for a character tag. <forename>_(<owner>) is probably the best in cases where only the first name of the character is known, unless the character's name is substantially unique enough to just use <forename>.

<forename>_(character)

is good in cases where there's going to be a conflict due to the character having the same name as the artist that created it, or being the eponymous character of a series. rika_(character) and spider-man_(character) look a whole lot better and are much less ambigious than rika_(rika) and spider-man_(spider-man).

<prefix>_<surname>

isn't brilliant, but if it's either the primary name for the character or there's no other name information to go by, it should be fine. Periods in the prefixes appear to be standard in US English, so I would support using them.

I agree with this. <prefix>_<surname> was actually used for mrs_wilde_(weaver), because no first name was offered and it's best to have something before the last name. Having the owner's name there is also handy.

Tuvalu said:
<forename>_(character) is good in cases where there's going to be a conflict due to the character having the same name as the artist that created it, or being the eponymous character of a series. rika_(character) and spider-man_(character) look a whole lot better and are much less ambigious than rika_(rika) and spider-man_(spider-man).

The convention is less than ideal (we have a bunch of "character" which meld stuff from various artists). Personally I prefer _(fursona) for the artist/character disambiguation. I'd use _(character) ONLY if the distinction is with a copyright, general or species (e.g. milky_way_(character), donkey_kong_(character), werefox_(character)). I favor systematically using the owning artist's name.

+1 for everything Tuvalu said. name_(character) only needs to be used when there's also a name_(artist) usually. But using name_(name) for someone's sona seems silly.

So...

A character should only be tagged with just their first name if "the character's name is substantially unique."_@Tuvalu

• <forename>

When a character shares the name of their copyright/franchise/owner:

_{e.g. a sona or eponym}

• <forename>_<surname>
• <forename>_(character)

The copyright/franchise/owner tag should have a suffix ('_(film)', '_(series)', '_(disney)', '_(artist)') which clarifies it's type. The character tag should be that character's full name. If their last name is not known, or it is too long, use the character's first name followed by _(character).

When a character does NOT share the name of their copyright/franchise/owner:

• <forename>_<surname>
• <forename>_<owner>

The character tag should be that character's full name. If their last name is not known, or it is too long, use the character's first name followed by the name of their copyright/franchise/owner (abbreviated if necessary).

When a character's first name is not (commonly) known:

• <prefix>_<surname>

The character tag should be that character's title ('mr._', 'mrs._', 'ms._', 'dr._'), followed by their last name.

Key

y     = Known
n/non = Unknown
for   = Known first name
sur   = Known last name
bot   = Both first and last name
 
Name? ┬ non ─ do not tag
      ├ for ─ Eponym? ┬ y ─ <forename>_(character)
      │               └ n ─ <forename>_(<owner>)
      │
      ├ sur ─ Eponym? ┬ y ─ <title>_<surname>_(character)
      │               └ n ─ <title>_<surname>
      │
      └ bot ─ Eponym? ┬ y ─ <forename>_<surname>_(character)
                      └ n ─ <forename>_<surname>

In some cases, it goes the other way around. For example, Sly Cooper is the character, while the series gets Sly Cooper (Series).