Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think my initial is M?

48 replies

UsernameInvalid66 · 01/10/2017 22:32

My surname beings with Mac- but there isn't a capital letter after the Mac. For the purpose of illustration I'm going to use "Macsomething". Not MacSomething and certainly not McSomething. The lack of a capital letter is not some faddy thing we've made up, it's been spelt that way in DH's family for at least 4 generations that we know of. DH was using the initial M for his surname when I first knew him (though he doesn't very often need a surname initial as his first name is fairly rare in our age group).

I work in a place where there are other people with the same first name as me. I've been there for about 10 years and have always signed myself "Username M" when I need to use an initial but invariably when someone else writes my name, they write "Username Mac" or even more annoyingly, "Username Mc" or very occasionally "Username Mac/McS". It's not necessary as there isn't another Username M. I haven't made a big deal of it, just continued to use M myself, but it slightly pisses me off every time someone adds the unnecessary letters. They don't call Username Harrison (name changed!) "Username Har", or Username Przewalska "Username Prz"!

As I said, I haven't actually complained about this because I half think it would just be petty, especially after so long, but AIBU just to find it a bit annoying?

OP posts:
squoosh · 01/10/2017 22:34

Ummmm...

squoosh · 01/10/2017 22:36

To be fair the Mac in Macdonald (or whatever) is a separate word to the donald. As I'm sure you know Mac means 'son of'. Just like Fitz means 'illegitimate son of'. So it does seem natural to me that the surname would be truncated to Mac.

Bambamber · 01/10/2017 22:37

How are they supposed to know it pisses you off if you don't mention it? They probably think you're happy with that because you haven't corrected them

UsernameInvalid66 · 01/10/2017 22:39

I don't think people do it with other prefixes though - would Jane Trelawney get called Jane Tre?

OP posts:
squoosh · 01/10/2017 22:40

But Tre isn't a word of its own is it?

UsernameInvalid66 · 01/10/2017 22:40

How are they supposed to know it pisses you off if you don't mention it?

They're not. I'm trying to work out whether there is even any point in finding it annoying or whether most people think it doesn't matter. As I said, I always write "M" myself (because it's what I'm used to), so for all I know I might be pissing other people off by doing that!

OP posts:
BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 01/10/2017 22:41

Not sure why it pisses you off.
They're the ones wasting time writing extra letters, not you

tabulahrasa · 01/10/2017 22:43

Mac is a separate word really though, that's why people shorten it there.

Catwithglasses · 01/10/2017 22:45

I used to work somewhere where 'Mac/Mc was filed before 'M' and tbh wouldn't have considered lack of capitalisation, sorry...

angelikacpickles · 01/10/2017 22:45

I don't think people do it with other prefixes though - would Jane Trelawney get called Jane Tre?

They do it with O' names. Doesn't bother me!

BeautyAndTheBrat · 01/10/2017 22:46

It originated from Scottish Gaelic were Mac is used for males and Nic is used for females. So Macdonald would be NicDonald

UsernameInvalid66 · 01/10/2017 22:47

and tbh wouldn't have considered lack of capitalisation

A lot of computers (in banks etc) convert the small letter to a capital automatically and apparently it can't be overridden. I sometimes wonder what happens to people called Macey or Macari...

OP posts:
HeddaGarbled · 01/10/2017 22:50

I think YABU but I suppose if it bothers you, you need to keep correcting people until they get it. I suspect this is something that will follow you for your whole life though (because the Mc/Mac prefix is so common) so unless you want to spend your entire life in a state of irritation, I'd learn to live with it.

I have a very common first name but I don't spell it the most common way. If I got my knickers in a twist everytime someone spells it the most common way, I'd be a nervous wreck by now.

ReinettePompadour · 01/10/2017 22:51

I have a double barrelled surname. I refer to myself as Mrs R-P. I get cross when people use Mrs R or Mrs P. You need to mention it if you object otherwise you will grow to despise all those who write it incorrectly.

lifetimelimit · 01/10/2017 22:51

What have I just read? Confused

FizzyGreenWater · 01/10/2017 22:51

Hmm yes difficult one.

I think I'd be more inclined to file Mac-small letter just under M.

McS and MacS (although the latter isn't usual is it?) definitely under McS or whatever.

AtSea1979 · 01/10/2017 22:52

Just cross the ac out a few times and they might take the hint

squoosh · 01/10/2017 22:52

Or just tell them?

ErrolTheDragon · 01/10/2017 22:54

People should address you in your preferred style. That's all there is to it. If you sign off Username M they should address you as such.

ILoveMillhousesDad · 01/10/2017 22:56

I am a Mc and I get called all kinds. I'm really not bothered

gamerwidow · 01/10/2017 22:57

My maiden name has this issue too. It was a Scottish Mac name but the bit after the Mac isn't capitalised.
No one ever spelt it correctly I was pleased to be rid of it.
Anyway yes your initial is M.

Happydays21 · 01/10/2017 22:57

Why does it matter if they call you e.g. Katy Mac rather than Katy M?

MorrisZapp · 01/10/2017 22:59

I think the lack of capitalisation is irrelevant. It's how your name is said, with a Mac. By all means tell them if you don't like it, but your surname begins with Mac even if it's spelled Mc without a capital.

Personally I like that form. At DS school, if two kids have the same name and one is a Mac surname they are known as Jamie Mac or whatever. I love that, but of course you may not.

MumsOnCrack · 01/10/2017 23:00

This post has made my face hurt...?!?!!!

squoosh · 01/10/2017 23:00
Grin

I know. The things people fret about!