When we created The Family History Guide, we took the unusual approach of starting the title with “The”. After four and a half years, we still like it! And we like that people have adopted nicknames for it, such as “The FH Guide,”  “the Guide” etc. … after all, the title is a bit longer than Ancestry, FamilySearch and others. That raises the question: when is it appropriate to use the full name of the site, and when can it be abbreviated?

Guidelines

Here are the guidelines for using the name:

1. Use “The Family History Guide” in all formal situations, such as when referring to the website in print articles, posters, media, and public announcements. That helps us maintain brand awareness. We still see instances where “Family History Guide,” “FH Guide” and other variations are used in PR materials for Family History Fairs and other events, so we encourage everyone to remember to use the full name.
2. Informally, you can use variations such as the ones mentioned above. However, it’s recommended to use the full name with those who may be unfamiliar with the website, as they may not understand what “the Guide” or “FH Guide” is referring to.
3. There is an officially approved abbreviation for formal settings: TFHG. This should be used only when space is at a premium. You will see “TFHG” occasionally on The Family History Guide website itself, for example.

The Association

So what’s the difference between “The Family History Guide” and “The Family History Guide Association”? The former refers to the website, while the latter refers to the non-profit organization. So you could say something like, “I learned that The Family History Guide is owned by The Family History Guide Association” (meaning that the website is owned by the organization). Informally, you could shorten the latter to “the Association.”

We at The Family History Guide Association thank you for helping us promote brand awareness for The Family History Guide; we appreciate your support!