I agree with Elmer that this is the real issue--singular vs. plural.
There is no such thing as Narraguagus Rivers or Penobscot Rivers. They
only exist in the singular--Narraguagus River and Penobscot River. When
they are combined, rivers is not capitalized because it is no longer a
proper noun.
DP
Elmer J. Finck wrote:
Michael -- I was taught that rivers are like counties in that they are
capitalized when in the singular, but not capitalized in the plural. For
example, Lyon County, but Lyon and Chase counties. Likewise, it is the
Missouri River, but Missouri and Mississippi rivers. mas tarde, EJF
Michael Cooperman <[email protected]>
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09/30/2009 01:27 PM
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[ECOLOG-L] to Capitalize or not to capitalize
In the following statement: ....the Narraguagus and Penobscot
rivers....should the word "rivers" be capitalized? I have my opinion,
but in the spirit of not biasing responses I'll keep it to myself; my
office as a whole is split 50/50. One way or the other, half the people
in my office are wrong!
Michael