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My comments may be too general for your purposes. But, what I can say about
this is that I prefer the style without the periods. But if a client insists
on the periods, I go along, if I have to. For example, perhaps it is a large
company that likes to portray a traditional image.
I have the general impression that using the style that has the periods is
more of a U.S. traditional thing. People (in the U.S.) a generation ago
would probably insist that the periods were necessary. They probably viewed
the other style as being glitzy, flashy, international. But now of course
international is good and generally to be preferred.
About research, don't know. Could be that there is some.
Again, I think the plain international style without the periods is
better, and correct.
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