This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: plant names

I agree, Jo Ellen. No caps on common names unless it is actually part of the name. For example: The boy George vs Boy George. But an AP Stylebook expert can better direct us. 

Susan McCoy
Garden Media Group
Office 610-444-3040
Cell 610-220-8400



On Feb 25, 2013, at 7:44 AM, "Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp" <hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> I have a question about common names. Think print, in newspapers and magazines, most of which have an aversion to too much fancy stuff in text:
> 
> Should common names be capitalized, such as Lilac or Sweet Potato Vine? I say no, because these are not proper names.
> 
> Next, what if you are writing about Hosta or other plants, where the scientific and a common name are the same. Should all hosta, petunia, impatiens, etc., references as a common names be cap or cap and Italics or can they be lower case?
> 
> 
> jems
> ____________________
> Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
> Director, Garden Writers Association
> hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net
> http://hoosiergardener.com
> Phone: (317) 251.3261
> P.O. Box 20310
> Indianapolis, IN 46220-0310
> Co-author, Indiana Gardener's Guide
> Author, The Visitor's Guide to American Gardens
> Great Garden Speakers
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gardenwriters mailing list
> gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters
> GWL list website  http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters
> GWL has searchable message archives at:
> http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters
> If you have photos for GWL, send them to gwlphotos@hort.net and they can be viewed at  http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos
_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters
GWL list website  http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters
GWL has searchable message archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters
If you have photos for GWL, send them to gwlphotos@hort.net and they can be viewed at  http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index