Should Common Animal Names Be Capitalized?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Historically, species names derived from proper names were capitalized, but

modern practice is not to capitalize even those

. Note that the genus and species (and subspecies and variety) are italicized. … Except as provided below, common names of organisms are not capitalized.

Is Elephant capitalized?

The only exception is if part of the name is a proper name or proper adjective, which

should always be capitalized

. See #6 here. See also this reference. Thus, otter shrew, elephants, gazelles, lions and wild dog should all be lower case, and it would be a mistake to capitalize them.

Are animal names capitalized?

Capitalize personal names, nicknames, and epithets.

Capitalize ' names if part or all of the name is derived from a proper noun

. Do not capitalize if the name is not derived from a proper name. Capitalize the first and second word in hyphenated proper names.

Are names of birds capitalized?

Orthography.

English names of birds are capitalized in keeping with standard ornithological practice

. As noted by Parkes (1978), capitalization also prevents ambiguity between a species name and a description in such cases as “gray flycatcher” or “solitary sandpiper”. Diacritical marks are not used in English names.

Is Doberman capitalized?

Name Comment Doberman pinscher German dog breeder Friedrich Ludwig Dobermann

Are dog names capitalized?


Do not routinely capitalize the names of dog breeds

. Many breed names are composed of proper nouns that you capitalize and generic terms (like retriever or terrier) that you lowercase.

Are dinosaur names capitalized?


The first part, called the genus, is always capitalized

; the second, called the specific epithet, is never capitalized. Both names are always italicized, and sometimes the genus name is abbreviated (as in T. rex for Tyrannosaurus rex). The genus name may be used alone to refer to all the species in a particular genus.

Are flower names capitalized?

In botany, all plants have at least two words that make up the scientific name, and

the first of those two words always is capitalized

. Because of this, many botanists and others taking their lead will capitalize the common name for the flower in their writing.

What are some good bird names?

  • Kiwi.
  • Baby.
  • Sunny.
  • Buddy.
  • Charlie.
  • Sunshine.
  • Angel.
  • Tiki.

What is scientific name of bird?

Birds are categorised as the biological

class Aves

in Linnaean taxonomy. Phylogenetic taxonomy places Aves in the dinosaur clade Theropoda.

Is Bulldog a proper noun?

When referring to “French” and “English” bulldogs, the geographic part of the breed

will always be capitalized

.

Does bald eagle need to be capitalized?

Should the common names of birds be capitalized? In other words, would you prefer to see Bald Eagle or bald eagle?

Yes

.

Should Dalmatians have a capital letter?

Also, note that Dalmatians are named after Dalmatia, so

that breed name is capitalized

. This is essentially a matter of style. The American Kennel Club capitalizes all dog breed names, it appears.

Is dog a common noun?

The noun ‘dog' is usually

used as a common noun

. It is not capitalized.

Is Pitbull capitalized?

Pitbull capitalization, like with every dog breed, depends on what style you follow. … The term pit is not a proper noun and therefore many will not capitalize the p in pitbull. Their full name though is ‘American pit bull', as America is a proper noun,

this should always be capitalized

.

Is Rottweiler capitalized?

Do you capitalize Rottweiler?

Only the part of the name derived from the proper noun takes an initial capital

. Capitalised dog breeds include: Rottweiler – named after Rottweil, a town in Germany.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.