With regard to topographical names, the University of Chicago Press (Manual
of Style) recommends that when a generic term is used in the plural either
before or after more than one proper name, the term should be capitalized
if, in the singular form and in the same position, it would be recognized as
a part of each name. Formerly such plural terms were capitalized only when
preceding the proper names,
Lakes Erie and Huron
Mounts Everest and Rainier
the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains
the Hudson and Mississippi Rivers
BUT
the rivers Hudson and Mississippi
As for vernacular names of plants and animals, "Common names of plants and
animals are capitalized in a bewildering variety of ways, even in lists and
catalogs having professional status. It is often appropriate to follow the
style of an 'official' list, and authors doing so should let their editors
know what list they are following."
It recommends a down style for names of wild plants and animals,
capitalizing only proper nouns and adjectives used with their original
reference, or suggests consulting a standard dictionary:
Dutchman's-breeches
mayapple
black-eyed Susan
New England aster
Michaelmas daisy
rhesus monkey
Cooper's hawk
Canada thistle
Virginia creeper
jack-in-the-pulpit
Rocky Mountain sheep
black bass
Nothing like a bit of editorial inconsistency to confuse matters further,
eh?
Ann
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E. Ann Poole, MSc, JP, Principal
Poole Ecological & Environmental Consultancy
PO Box 890, 741 Beard Rd
Hillsborough, NH 03244
(603)478-1178
[email protected]
www.eannpoole.com
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