# The [proof-theory] tag is misused too often.

Proof theory is a branch of mathematical logic which treats proofs just like other mathematical objects, like numbers and sets. It's an extremely technical field, involving Gödel-numberings, derivability conditions, reflection principles, and transfinite ordinals (oh my!). Contrary to what seems to be a common belief on Math.SE, it's NOT about what makes a good and rigorous proof, how to write proofs, and the general subject of the role proofs play in pure mathematics.

Yet that seems to be the meaning people are assuming when they select the tag. It seems like almost all the questions with this tag are mislabeled. I'm aware that if you hover over a tag, descriptions pop up, but a lot of people, especially first-time users, may not notice them. So would it be possible to do some kind of cleanup of the questions associated with this tag?

• I wonder if there is a good alternative name for that tag, without the danger of being misused so often. – azimut Oct 8 '13 at 8:24
• Well, there are tags that more closely match what people seem to think proof theory means: the [proof-writing] tag and especially the [proof-strategy] tag. As far as alternative names for proof theory, it may be good to have an ordinal analysis tag; at least the proof theory questions I've personally been asking fall largely in the subfield of ordinal analysis. – Keshav Srinivasan Oct 8 '13 at 13:27
• @KeshavSrinivasan, I think the proof-strategy tag is misused as well, and the proof-verification one is actually defined wrong. Really, very few questions should have any tags relating to proof. – dfeuer Oct 13 '13 at 21:53
• Might the problem be alleviated by renaming "proof-theory" as "theory-of-proofs"? More emphasis on "theory" might deter some of the misuse. – Andreas Blass Oct 19 '13 at 0:18

It is possible to do. It would be a good thing to do. And you can help by suggesting edits that change the tags of incorrectly tagged questions.

• If you notice any other problems with these posts (e.g., non-$\LaTeX$ed mathematics, improper grammar, un-umlauted "o"s in Gödel), you can suggest these changes as well.