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I have been doing some edits in Ottawa Canada and the tagging there seems strange. Many things are tagged with "City of Ottawa" while others are just tagged with "Ottawa". While "City of Ottawa" is correct in a sense (mostly when talking about the bureaucrats that run the city), you would never address an envelope like that...

So in the end, I'm not sure what to use. I suspect "Ottawa" is the way to go (something about being the truth on the ground), but does that mean I should try to correct all the "City of Ottawa" out there?

How would I do such a mass correction anyway?

asked 07 Aug '14, 06:33

mikewilliamson's gravatar image

mikewilliamson
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I can't speak for what's "proper" in Canada, but for the U.S., when putting addr:city or other city tags on things, I just use the city name: Atlanta, Miami, etc.

The exception is when I want to specify the city government for something, such as in the operator tag; then I use "City of ....". I would tag city courts or the police with "operator:City of Marietta" or "operator:City of Atlanta"

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answered 07 Aug '14, 15:25

Jack%20the%20Ripper's gravatar image

Jack the Ripper
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accept rate: 12%

That is definitely what seems most reasonable/accurate to me. So what should be done about all this "City of Ottawa" floating around then?

(07 Aug '14, 15:47) mikewilliamson
1

I wouldn't go out of my way to do it, but as you encounter them, I'd change them.

(07 Aug '14, 16:41) Jack the Ripper

Just as an aside, for cities in which the word City is actually part of the name, of course I leave that (Kansas City, Jefferson City, etc.).

(08 Aug '14, 22:51) Jack the Ripper

Hi Mike, welcome there has been such a kind of question before, http://forum.openstreetmap.org/viewtopic.php?id=7894 one remark, the Canadian community looks rather calm at the asking side, but asking could have some effect anyway, there a lot of viewers. OSM does not encourage automated mass corrections or better denotes them. It’s a risky business with the side effect of unwanted changes. Try to mail the original mapper by using the history button and ask why the name tag is as it is. Please ask the city council of Ottawa how the name should be written out officially and change the name at the official and administrative borders if necessary. Read the beginner’s site as well, http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Main_Page and the beginner’s site.

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answered 07 Aug '14, 08:04

Hendrikklaas's gravatar image

Hendrikklaas
9.3k207238387
accept rate: 5%

I think this is straight forward. I live in the country of Australia, but I call it Australia. I don't expect you would get a sensible answer by asking the City Council of Ottawa because city officials seem to feel a need to embellish their city given any opportunity so would almost certainly prefer the "City of Ottawa". The Canadian OSM community is probably in the best position to decide.
my 2c

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answered 07 Aug '14, 10:35

nevw's gravatar image

nevw
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accept rate: 9%

edited 07 Aug '14, 10:36

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question asked: 07 Aug '14, 06:33

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last updated: 08 Aug '14, 22:51

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