alias cross-section -> cross_section

BUR #59114 is pending approval.

create alias cross-section -> cross_section

The cross-section tag's wiki defines itself as a noun referring to cross sections (for example, post #462991).
Since the tag is not being used primarily as a fixed compound modifier, and is used almost exclusively in its nounal form, the hyphen is unnecessary.

Additionally, "cross section" is the more common spelling in modern English usage.
This is supported by "cross section" being used ~10x more often than "cross-section", as per Google Trends data (2004-2026)

Aliasing cross-section -> cross_section would still allow both forms to remain searchable/taggable, so functionality is preserved while also making the tag easier to find and use.

Both forms will already appear in autocomplete since it treats - and _ interchangeably, so it isn't really necessary either way. Though it is more correct, so meh.

Talulah said in forum #438468:

Both forms will already appear in autocomplete since it treats - and _ interchangeably, so it isn't really necessary either way. Though it is more correct, so meh.

Yea, it’s mostly about “cross section” being used ~10x more often than “cross-section” in modern English. But also, Danbooru’s normal tag formatting uses underscores to separate words inside tags, generally not hyphens from what I’ve seen. Hyphens are usually used only when they’re necessary for clarity. Since “cross section” is a regular noun phrase and not a fixed hyphenated compound, cross_section better matches the rest of Danbooru’s tagging style/approach. Not the end of the world but it’s the far more popular usage and more consistent with the rest of the site

しすた-しにかる said in forum #438393:

This is supported by "cross section" being used ~10x more often than "cross-section", as per Google Trends data (2004-2026)

I feel that these results would be skewed by people not bothering to add the hyphen when searching.

That said, while I have only ever known it to be hyphenated, looking it up now has led me to find that the unhyphenated version is quite common.

Amusing sidenote: The Wikipedia page for the geometry definition is titled "cross section" but the rest of the page uses "cross-section" far more often. Go figure.

StarfishAtLarge said in forum #438536:

You sure it's not just that people don't bother to add the hyphen when searching? I've only ever known it to be hyphenated.

Amusing sidenote: The Wikipedia page is titled "cross section" but the rest of the page uses "cross-section" far more often. Go figure.

Who knows, people can definitely be lazy! 10x is quite the disparity though, wouldn’t you say?

しすた-しにかる said in forum #438537:

Who knows, people can definitely be lazy! 10x is quite the disparity though, wouldn’t you say?

I have no desire to estimate how likely people are to do something. But, looking it up on my own, the majority of dictionaries do seem to have it without the hyphen.

Sure, change it.

Since we're talking about it, I think cross-section is a bad tag, actually. It's used for both 3D objects (post #5465011), and for separate frames (post #11410108). We should probably split it into 3d cross section and 2d cross section or something, because as it stands the tag is 99% porn. There's also the odd case of objects being bisected/sliced so that they become actual cross sections, and that should be its own tag too.