This is just a very quick passing reference to capitalisation of species names. I’ve written about it before – see here for discussion of shy albatrosses and Shy Albatrosses.
When people write guest blogs here I do not instruct them to capitalise species names (because I’m very tolerant – renowned for it) but I do have a little check through to see whether they have been consistent in how they refer to species. And so when Miles King sent me his blog recently, with this image of a clover with the caption as it appears below, I looked at it and thought, it doesn’t look subterranean to me – how would I see it if it were subterranean?
So, being, as you know, a terribly poor botanist, I googled it and found that it wasn’t a description of how far below ground it grew except that it is the name of Subterranean Clover. So I was happy to alter the caption to Subterranean Clover to make it quite clear that this is its name, and it isn’t just a clover that is subterranean (even though it grows on top of the soil, like most plants, and also in the soil, like most terrestrial plants).
But I was interested to see why it is called the Subterranean Clover – see here. I could almost become interested in plants…
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Capitalisation is extremely important in the conveyance of meaning as anyone familiar with the tale of Caroline, her Uncle Jack and his horse will know.
For anyone interested in a truly subterranean botanical quirk the weird behaviour of Arachis hypogea is worth a squint because although it is commonly called a nut it is not a nut at all at all and it has that feature in common with several other nuts that are not nuts and I’m thinking of almonds, Brazils, cashews, macadamias, pecans, pistachios, pine nuts and walnuts and in fact none of those are peas either. Whereas the hazel bears a true nut.
Well as for sure you know things like that seem unimportant to me, I do wish I had been more interested in English in my school days but for sure my herd of cows did not give a toss.
I would guess that my knowledge of cows ailments and treatments was important to them and myself and as I was interested in my work then I was good at it I think plus the vets had a good respect of my knowledge and would give me advice as opposed to a costly visit quite often.
Of course I appreciate the fact that you ignore my lack of perfect English.
I sometimes even wonder if it is something like dyslexia.
Dennis – your comments are always welcome here – even the daft ones! And I don’t mind your English at all, you’re very tolerant of my typos and of my views when they differ from yours.
What kind of bird, I wonder, is a Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw?
Many years ago, while out birding, I was asked what I was watching by a passer by. “A Little Owl” I replied… I’m sure you can guess the rest.
My mother was lambasted by a very posh lady once when she asked us what we were looking at and I promptly replied Ruddy Duck.. she was reprimanded for allowing me to use such foul (?fowl?) language!! She really did NOT believe us that it was a thing……
Maybe you should’ve taken the opportunity to tell her about the bird’s Bastard Wing as well, Louise? 😉
I was delighted to read this blog. As editor of a bird magazine, I am constantly asked by contributors why I change their lowercase to capitals.
I have been infuriated the other way, with local wildlife organisations refusing to have capitalised species (unless its a propernoun such as a persons name) in the species………and changing things I write for them. Simple solution – I dont produce anything for them that they can mess with in that way!
Now you’ve started something! When designing an interpretation panel for my district council (no names, etc…), I was instructed to change the statement…
The eggs are incubated by both sexes…
to the cringeworthy…
The eggs are incubated by both mother and father…
as the word “sexes” could cause offence…FFS!!!
I informed the individual in question that they could design the bloody thing themselves if they wanted to include such garbage! A compromise of “both parents” was finally reached, but I was still far from happy. 🙂
Cock and hen
Indeed, Matron!