@momtochloe and @NoelSeven
If the drop-down box ever doesn't work (and it should now since obviously both your names are in recent posts in this thread), here is a work-around.
1) Go to another thread or forum where the person has posted, and hit reply to one of their posts,
2) Type @ into that reply post and you will definitely get the drop-down box with THAT person's nic,
3) Click on the nic to accept and then copy it,
4) Leave the "pretend" post and go back to the thread where you want to use the copied nic, and
5) Begin a new post into which you paste the copied nic. Voila!
Hope that helps if ever you are stuck.
As you know, the notification doesn't work to actually notify anyone unless the nic is the auto-populated linkable version, not just a nic that you have typed with the @ symbol.
ETA: @ChynnaBlue
I know you have a list of helpful hints for posters. I haven't seen the latest version. In case you don't already have this workaround, you are welcome to add all or part of the above to your list.
[was Homegirl] Love to be home . . . thus the screen name. Joined 2003.