Should John Smith (M.A/PhD) read suffix M.A/PhD, as John Smith (M.A, PhD) does? #1138

rules/S3 (credentials written in joined chunks) reads a word joined by / or - as a suffix when every chunk counts as a suffix as written. A dotted member of the ambiguous class without its final period (M.A) is no suffix as written, so a joined word holding it is refused, though rules/S13 (a bracketed member settled by its writing) reads the same member as a credential when its words are written apart in brackets after the name. Split from #1103, whose fix left this gap open.

Measured 2026-11-06 on the #1103 branch:

Proposed rule shape (an amendment to S3, or to S13):

• When: a joined word holds a chunk that is a dotted member of the ambiguous class written without its final period.
• Then: the chunk takes S13's reading of the member: settled as the credential where S13 settles it (in brackets after the name), and inside the name the word reads as its words written apart do, the fork reported.
• Because: a chunk is asked what the word written alone is asked (Should John Smith (MD/PhD) read suffix MD/PhD, as John Smith (MD, PhD) reads suffix MD, PhD? #1088, Should Jane Smith PhD/NP-C read suffix PhD/NP-C, as Jane Smith PhD, NP-C does? #1103), and S13 is what the member written alone is asked in brackets.
• Open: outside brackets, does the joined word read as a whole credential (S3's every-chunk test passing the member) or split its reading the way M.A, PhD does, which a single token cannot?
• Excluded: a bare member (MA/PhD) keeps S3's Accepted reading, refused.

How often it is written: not yet measured (NPPES's slash spellings and ClinicalTrials.gov officials are the places to count).