“Moreover,” they continue, “the middle initials effect was specific to intellectual performance, and it was mediated by perceived status.” In other words, the presence of middle initials appears to add intellectual heft, “increas[ing] positive evaluations of people’s intellectual capacities and achievements.” Van Tilburg and Igou began their investigation because of the link they saw between middle initials and their use in formal contexts, especially when referring to intellectual achievements. Other researchers have found that shares with easy to pronounce names, such as “Clearman.” perform better in the stock market than shares with difficult to pronounce names, such as “Mextskry.” Yet another study showed that food additives with difficult to pronounce names (“Hnegripitrom”) are perceived as more harmful than additives with easier names (“Magnalroxate”).
– Want to be seen as an intellectual? Here's an easy first step: Start using your middle initial in writing. Doing so, a study finds, boosts "positive evaluations of people's intellectual capacities and achievements." The study—run by researchers Wijnand A.P. van Tilburg and Eric R. Igou, who appear to be taking their own advice—focused on writing, Time reports. The investigators reached their conclusions after giving subjects a scientific article attributed to, variously, David Clark, David F. Clark, David F.P. Clark, or David F.P.R. Clark, the New Republic reports. David F.P.R. Clark fared best in subjects' assessments of the author's ability, while David F. Clark still beat David Clark. Also helpful, when it comes to names: ease of pronunciation, another study finds. Subjects were given trivia statements (like "giraffes are the only mammals that cannot jump"), which were associated with various names. The statements linked to names considered easier to pronounce were more trusted by subjects, Scientific American reports. A study on company names had similar results. Firms with easier-to-pronounce names apparently do better in the stock market, the magazine notes. (One name you definitely want to avoid? God.)