Greg is right - I've asked the same question of our NSW OEH publishing people.
Species are not considered to be proper nouns (they are viewed as common
nouns), therefore not 'deserving' of capitalisation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proper_noun
This policy is apparently consistent with some key scientific journals (J.
Ecology, I think?), so blaming publishing people for it may be a tad misplaced.
Cheers Tim
Tim Hosking | Dubbo NSW | Mob: 0438 600 837 |
-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Clancy
Sent: Tuesday, 10 April 2012 4:32 PM
To: Richard Nowotny; 'Philip Veerman'; 'Birding Aus'
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Publishing convention re bird-names
The NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (part of the Office of Environment
and Heritage) uses all lower case names (except where it would otherwise be
an upper case such as Lewin's, Gould's etc.) for plants and animals in its
publications, management plans etc.. The argument, as I understand it, is
that common names of plants and animals are not proper nouns, except as
described earlier and therefore it would be like capitalising human for Homo
sapiens which isn't correct but each human's name, such as Bill and Mary are
proper nouns and therefore start with a capital letter. Despite this I
believe to avoid confusion as stated in Richard's earlier post we should
make an exception for the common names of plants and animals and use
capitals at the beginning of each word.
Regards
Greg
Greg. P. Clancy
Ecologist
Coutts Crossing
NSW
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Nowotny
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 3:50 PM
To: 'Philip Veerman' ; 'Birding Aus'
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Publishing convention re bird-names
Interestingly Phillip I wasn't actually trying to make a point. I'm
genuinely interested in the origins of what is indeed an accepted/required
"convention" in much of the publishing world, decided by people who
presumably are neither lazy nor stupid, and presumably for a reason (or
reasons) which they consider to be sound - and which presumably they
consider outweigh the fairly obvious downsides of using this
non-capitilising convention. But what are these reasons? R.
I agree entirely on your point. However I think it overly generous of you to
refer to this trend of ignoring the intelligence behind capitalisation as a
"convention". It is hardly deserving of that title. Unless you care to call
laziness and stupidity a "convention". Is it anything other than laziness
and stupidity?
Philip Veerman
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