# IMPORTANT! If your user name has a space in it or a non-alphanumeric character READ THIS **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 12, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560 "2020-06-12T20:15:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/1 "2020-06-12T20:15:12Z")
Going to the new system (Discourse) we have noticed that user names with spaces or non-alphanumeric characters like apostrophes (anything that isn’t a letter or a number), that part of your user name will probably get converted to an underscore (this guy --\> \_ ). If that’s ok with you, then you don’t need to do anything. Just be aware that you’ll need to use the new version with underscores once we switch over. If this causes an issue for you, please contact us ASAP! ETA: Two examples that I checked: Omar Little becomes Omar\_Little Elendil’s Heir becomes Elendil\_s\_Heir ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/2 "2020-06-12T20:18:41Z")
It’s not a huge deal for me, but if it’s not a hassle for anyone to maintain the name I would prefer to keep Fotheringay-Phipps rather than switch to Fotheringay\_Phipps. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/3 "2020-06-12T20:19:10Z")
I’m assuming, then, that my name would be Dr\_\_Winston\_OBoogie? Don’t overly care too much. Would almost rather have DrWinstonOBoogie. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/4 "2020-06-12T20:21:32Z")
These appear to be the user name rules. Minimum length: 3 characters Maximum length: 15 characters Must begin with a letter or number All other characters can be a letter, number or underscore If you want me to check how your name ported over, please contact me. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/5 "2020-06-12T20:23:23Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > It’s not a huge deal for me, but if it’s not a hassle for anyone to maintain the name I would prefer to keep Fotheringay-Phipps rather than switch to Fotheringay\_Phipps. Yours comes up as Fotheringay-Phipps ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/6 "2020-06-12T20:23:56Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > I’m assuming, then, that my name would be Dr\_\_Winston\_OBoogie? > > Don’t overly care too much. Would almost rather have DrWinstonOBoogie. Yours comes up as Dr.Winston\_OBoogie ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/7 "2020-06-12T20:24:19Z")
I posted this in the other thread, but I’ve been considering changing my username. Would it be easier to do it now or after the move? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/8 "2020-06-12T20:26:30Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Yours comes up as Fotheringay-Phipps Thanks. Looks like a hyphen is OK under the new system. Also, that the 15 character max has exceptions. (Possibly it’s a per word limit, and the hyphen separates them?) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/9 "2020-06-12T20:26:37Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I posted this in the other thread, but I’ve been considering changing my username. Would it be easier to do it now or after the move? I will check with our admin and get back to you. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/10 "2020-06-12T20:28:29Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Thanks. > > Looks like a hyphen is OK under the new system. > > Also, that the 15 character max has exceptions. (Possibly it’s a per word limit, and the hyphen separates them?) Mine is more than 15, but those were the only printed rules I was able to find (admittedly it was a brief search). If anyone can find better documentation, let us know. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/11 "2020-06-12T20:29:51Z")
So, since mine doesn’t have a hyphen it’s too long?? Ivorytowerdenizen 17 char ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/12 "2020-06-12T20:31:02Z")
Is that just an issue with the transfer of info or a permanent thing in the new board? i.e. can you rename it back again with the space? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/13 "2020-06-12T20:41:34Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > So, since mine doesn’t have a hyphen it’s too long?? > > Ivorytowerdenizen 17 char Yours comes over as IvoryTowerDenizen ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/14 "2020-06-12T20:42:22Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Is that just an issue with the transfer of info or a permanent thing in the new board? > > i.e. can you rename it back again with the space? I’m not 100 percent sure, but it looks like Discourse simply does not allow spaces in user names. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/15 "2020-06-12T20:49:36Z")
Latest info I have now is user names can be 3 to 20 characters. I have also been told that the minimum password length is 8 characters and must have at lease 2 unique characters(#$%& etc) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/16 "2020-06-12T20:50:27Z")
That’s a mild annoyance. So I’ll lose my space and my “?” it sounds like. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/17 "2020-06-12T20:53:45Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > That’s a mild annoyance. So I’ll lose my space and my “?” it sounds like. Yours ports over as What\_Exit ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/18 "2020-06-12T20:58:16Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Yours ports over as What\_Exit Thanks, not a good thing, but not a big thing either. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/19 "2020-06-12T21:02:11Z")
ECG, have you checked if there are any problems with similar names that get converted to the same name? Users “engineer comp geek” and “engineer’comp’geek” would both end up with your username. I know you generally don’t allow usernames like that, but I bet the database has a few banned users who purposely created a name close to someone else’s. ETA: In fact, there was a banned “Jonathan Chance” just from today with nonprinting characters in their username. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/20 "2020-06-12T21:02:41Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Yours comes over as IvoryTowerDenizen Ok! Phew [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560.md?page=2)