SO...

If I, during the IW process matched the imported name of similis to the preferred checklist fraticornis on the basis that its synonym was listed during the Find Taxon process (which it looks very likely I did), is it correct for the determination screen to show the imported synonym, while the taxon occurrence shows the (preferred /reccomended) name?

Is that always the behaviour?

Matt

That is the normal way recorder has performed since I have known it. Makes perfect sense to me, but it might be one of those situations where it would be useful to have a setting in the options to display the preferred name by default or the original recorded name.

Hi Matt
There is probably some confusion over terminology in this area. In the "internals"of the system at least, there is a concept of a recommended taxon and a preferred checklist, though quite often the term preferred taxon is used as a synonym of recommended taxon.
The recommended taxon is the single recommended taxon you can use when reporting. So, if you want a species list from records with mixed common names, synonyms and correct latin names, the they can all be mapped to a recommended taxon which makes it easy not to duplicate things in a summary species list, for example. Note that a recommended taxon not only defines the name, but also a checklist which it appear on (which will normally be a preferred checklist - see below).
A preferred checklist is a checklist covering a taxonomic area which is considered to be the most accurate and up to date list for that taxonomic area and is suitable for data entry. It can of course contain both the recommended names, as well as synonyms and common names.
Although the term preferred taxon might sometimes be used to mean recommended taxon, I think it could also refer in taxonomic terms to the correct latin name for something (as opposed to a synonym). This is slightly different to a recommended taxon because a recommended taxon in Recorder also defines the list to use, not just the name.

Clear as mud?