A Capital Offense ?
Capitalization of frog names
Capitalization of frog names
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Editorially wrong, but useful
You may have noticed that I capitalize the common names of frog species.
This convention may seem annoying and incorrect to text editors and other observers of the fine points of the
rules of writing, so let me explain. (I am a writer/editor myself, so I sympathize.) There may also be school
students reading this website, and their teachers may take issue with the gratuitous use of capitals where they
are not supposed to be.
This "incorrect" capitalization of the common names of species is something I learned from – and has precedent
in – the bird-watching world. It seemed pretentious and wrong to me at first, but I finally got used to it after
several years of birding. The simple and practical reason is this:
The common names of many species can sometimes be mistaken for a plain English description rather than the
name of the species. Capitalizing is a handy way to eliminate this ambiguity.
The bird world is full of examples of this situation. The gorgeous quetzal at the right is certainly a "resplendent" bird... but it is not just a resplendent quetzal – it is actually the species "Resplendent Quetzal".
Among my species of frogs, consider these pairs of statements ...
green frog vs Green Frog
I saw a beautiful green frog down at the pond
This could mean any old frog that's green ...
gray treefrog vs Gray Treefrog
What a cute gray treefrog!
This sounds like it was a treefrog that was gray ...
wood frog vs Wood Frog
(I admit, this one is a bit of a stretch – but it was fun!)
I've been looking for a wood frog, and I found a handsome one !
(Click here to find out where you can buy one of these.)
You may have noticed that I capitalize the common names of frog species.This convention may seem annoying and incorrect to text editors and other observers of the fine points of the
rules of writing, so let me explain. (I am a writer/editor myself, so I sympathize.) There may also be school
students reading this website, and their teachers may take issue with the gratuitous use of capitals where they
are not supposed to be.
This "incorrect" capitalization of the common names of species is something I learned from – and has precedent
in – the bird-watching world. It seemed pretentious and wrong to me at first, but I finally got used to it after
several years of birding. The simple and practical reason is this:
The common names of many species can sometimes be mistaken for a plain English description rather than the
name of the species. Capitalizing is a handy way to eliminate this ambiguity.
The bird world is full of examples of this situation. The gorgeous quetzal at the right is certainly a "resplendent" bird... but it is not just a resplendent quetzal – it is actually the species "Resplendent Quetzal".
Among my species of frogs, consider these pairs of statements ...
green frog vs Green Frog
I saw a beautiful green frog down at the pond
This could mean any old frog that's green ...
Bullfrog Gray Treefrog Green Frog
Rana catesbeiana Hyla versicolor Rana clamitans
Rana catesbeiana Hyla versicolor Rana clamitans
I saw a beautiful Green Frog down at the pond
This can only mean it was a "Green Frog" – Rana clamitans – which might not even be green!
This can only mean it was a "Green Frog" – Rana clamitans – which might not even be green!
Green Frog
Rana clamitans
Rana clamitans
gray treefrog vs Gray Treefrog
What a cute gray treefrog!
This sounds like it was a treefrog that was gray ...
In a hole in the apple tree On my black jeans
What a cute Gray Treefrog!
This means it was a Hyla versicolor, which could be gray or green or anything in between.
All five of these pictures are Gray Treefrogs.
This means it was a Hyla versicolor, which could be gray or green or anything in between.
All five of these pictures are Gray Treefrogs.
wood frog vs Wood Frog
(I admit, this one is a bit of a stretch – but it was fun!)
I've been looking for a wood frog, and I found a handsome one !
(Click here to find out where you can buy one of these.)
I've been looking for a Wood Frog, and I found a handsome one !
This can only mean a Rana sylvatica. The name comes from the fact that they hang out in the woods for most of the year.
This one was in my yard in the middle of the summer. I usually don't see them except in early spring, when they thaw out
and come to the pond to breed. (See Salamander Night)
This year (2009) I discovered they are in the cast of characters that populate road surfaces on wet summer nights.
(See Frogs in the Road)
This can only mean a Rana sylvatica. The name comes from the fact that they hang out in the woods for most of the year.
This one was in my yard in the middle of the summer. I usually don't see them except in early spring, when they thaw out
and come to the pond to breed. (See Salamander Night)
This year (2009) I discovered they are in the cast of characters that populate road surfaces on wet summer nights.
(See Frogs in the Road)
Bullfrog
Spring Peeper
These two don't have the ambiguity problem, but if I capitalize some, I better capitalize all !
Spring Peeper
These two don't have the ambiguity problem, but if I capitalize some, I better capitalize all !
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