Subject: Re: english usage
Date: Apr 26 11:15:29 1995
From: Don Baccus - donb at Rational.COM


On Wed, 26 Apr 1995, Don Baccus wrote:
> I write for the oregonian on natural history (very) occasionally,
> as well as other places, and I can never decide how to
> present bird names: capitalized or not.


Michael R. Smith:
>I think the rules for this are quite clear. Follow the format in any
>published checklist, which are based on AOU. Names that are not preceded
>by a hyphen are capitalized in bird names.

I'd certainly agree with this for any technical publication, though
perhaps the scientific name would be a better choice.

>This does *not* occur with other critters or plants, where only proper
>names are capitalized:

First, it does occur with other critters and plants in popular
writing - both styles are apparently acceptable with editors.

Second, capitalizing bird names, but not (say) mammal names is
the kind of inconsistency that would leave an editor scratching
his or her head (remember that editors for popular publications
often know English (American, actually) and little else). I'm
sure most editors would opt for consistency.

Though I don't accept your comment as a "rule", I do
take it as a vote in favor of that style.


-Don Baccus-