I need a little help, here. (word usage people)

[TomInTib]

"also known as"

aka

or

a.k.a.

?

Which is most used/proper?

Thanks in advance.

Your uneducated friend,
Tom

[skooooo]

1. With the periods..

....is the way it should be written, I believe. There should be someplace to look it up tho.

[eleny]

2. Wiki says either way

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.k.a.

"AKA, Aka or aka may refer to:

* a.k.a. or aka ("also known as"), used to describe author pseudonyms, aliases, nicknames, working names, legalized names, pen names, maiden names, etc."

[gateley]

3. Wiki says either --

AKA, Aka or aka may refer to:
a.k.a. or aka ("also known as"), used to describe author pseudonyms, aliases, nicknames, working names, legalized names, pen names, maiden names, etc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.k.a.

EDIT TO ADD:

So does answers.com (it looks like aka is preferred)

Grammar Dictionary: aka
(ay-kay-ay)
An abbreviation meaning “also known as.” It is primarily used by law enforcement officials to specify an alias: “John Smith, aka Jonathan Jones.”

The abbreviation, which also appears as AKA and a.k.a., is often used figuratively and facetiously: “my cousin, aka the worst gossip in the neighborhood.”

http://www.answers.com/topic/aka

[hisownpetard]

4. Actually, I prefer "a/k/a" which is how it's usually written in legal documents.

[TomInTib]

7. I like that.

We have changed the name of our Gallery, and want to refer to the old name in print ads.

I think the slashes flow better than the periods.

on edit: Did I actually type the line above without thinking?

Yep

[ColbertWatcher]

9. I think the slashes flow better than the periods.

Looks like you did.

Oops, now I did too.

[TomInTib]

11. Maybe we could form a band.

Name it that.

Post-punk, maybe.

Maybe acoustic post-punk.

[ColbertWatcher]

13. We could call ourselves "Tom McCartney and Flexi-Wings" n/t

[TomInTib]

17. I was thinking "Slashes Flow Better Than Periods"

Get the snuffs and the scats.

But I would damn sure write a song about "Cruising With Flexi-Wings".

[Straight Shooter]

10. I agree. a/k/a is the preference for legal documents ...

Just as d/b/a is the preferred acronym for "doing business as"

ETA, that's how I've always seen it, and spelled it.

[Blue_In_AK]

15. That's how I've always done it.

[skooooo]

18. If he's not writing a 'legal document' it will look stupid - a/k/a

[hisownpetard]

20. No, it won't. It's common usage.

[panader0]

5. With the periods.

[Robb]

6. Agreed.

And I come from the "justify every drop of ink" school of editing.

[hvn_nbr_2]

8. I might use a.k.a. or AKA but not aka

Lower case, it looks like a regular word and would confuse people. Might also be mistaken for a misspelling by a speechwriter for a former Virginia Senator.:evilgrin:

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. I was going to chime in with THE authority -

the Chicago Manual of Style - but I can't find the damned thing.

Now I'll have to go out and buy another one.

[ima_sinnic]

19. Chicago 15th, 15.4, says a.k.a. (nt)

[RaleighNCDUer]

23. Thanks!

:hi:

[msedano]

14. née...for a note of distinction, AKA

pretension, snobbery, surprise, humor.

Née is French for "born as" (feminine gender) ,AKA maiden name.

There's a general trend toward language simplification. This allows all sorts of neologisms and just plain bad grammar to sneak past our increasingly ignorant public, "infer" for "imply" and vice versa; "podium" for "lectern" or "speaker's stand". Hence, I'd say go for, sans-periods, AKA preceded by a comma, typed in caps. But if you're advertising a gallery, why not add a note of distinction to the brew with a soupçon of Liberty?

e.g. (without italics), The Napasonomamendocino Gallery, née Medici's Closet.

http://www.wired.com/culture/culturereviews/magazine/16-07/st_holt

regards,
mvs, AKA moi.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Whichever way you choose, Tom

Come see me after school and I will write you a pass. :)

[deaniac21]

21. dictionary.com is your friend.

[DemoTex]

22. Isn't AKA a Swedish pop group? Or is it a furniture store?

Maybe the AKA-47? Or my brother-in-law, a notorious drunk and racist who got his early training as A-KA (a.k.a. Kappa Alpha Order) at the University of South Carolina?

Tom, my well-educated (by my standards and my observations) friend, I think it makes not a rat's ass (aka Rattus Rattus Gluteus Maximus)!

:hi: