[biblio] A bug in the keys generated by BibTeX

[Edna Wigderson]

BibTeX seems to suffer from a Y2K-like bug. Here is an example:

====File bug.tex====

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}

BibTeX seems to suffer from a ``Y2K''-like bug --- it assigns the same key to references where the authous share the same first 3 characters in their last names, and the articles are published a multiple of 100 years apart.

This can be seen in~\cite{Smi19a}, \cite{Smi19b} and in~\cite{Smi19c}.
\thispagestyle{plain}
\bibliographystyle{alpha}
\bibliography{refs} {}

\end{document}



====File refs.bib====


@article{Smi19a,
  title={An article from 1819},
  author={Smith, John},
  journal={Ancient Journal},
  volume={1819},
  number={1},
  pages={12--13},
  year={1819}
}

@article{Smi19b,
  title={An article from 1919},
  author={Smither, Jonathan},
  journal={Old Journal},
  volume={1919},
  number={2},
  pages={112--113},
  year={1919},
  publisher={Springer}
}

@article{Smi19c,
	Author = {Smithonian, Jane},
	Journal = {New Journal},
	Pages = {1--5},
	Title = {An article from 2019},
	Volume = {1},
	Year = {2019}
}


==========

To reproduce the problem, save the files and run:

  $  pdflatex bug
  $  bibtex bug
  $  pdflatex bug
  $  pdflatex bug

All 3 references in the pdf are labeled as [Smi19]
 


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