[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: To Capitalize or Not to Capitalize
- From: Fran Henry <fhenry1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pmick@xxxxxxxxx>, <kennadale@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 15:40:01 -0600
Actually, it's a matter of style. Webster's 10th Collegiate Dictionary says
it's German shepherd. Associated Press Stylebook, the bible for newspaper
editors, says to use Webster's New World Dictionary [which isn't on my desk]
and, if it isn't in this dictionary, to capitalize words derived from proper
nouns and use lowercase elsewhere. AP gives the examples basset hound and
Boston terrier. Chambers [British dictionary] lists German shepherd and
German shepherd dog.
Specialty magazines such as the Review and the AKC Gazette may very well
have determined that in *their* publications, they will capitalize all the
words in the name of the breed and therefore will use German Shepherd Dog. A
publisher of books about various breeds could decide to follow Webster or AP
or could decide to capitalize all the words in the breed name.
Most publications follow a style guide. Academics follow style guides, some
using Chicago Manual of Style, some using APA Style [American Psychological
Association.] It's to assure consistency in the publication and to avoid
confusing readers. But many publications develop in-house style guides to
deal with issues particular to their region or their area of specialization.
My personal preference is to capitalize all the words, but I wouldn't do so
if I were writing a letter to the editor of my local newspaper.
Fran in Denver
> I hate to disagree with Carolyn but there is a distinction here that we
> are missing.
> The name of the BREED is the German Shepherd Dog....each word is
> capitalized.
> However, if you are writing about dogs or people or something other
> than this specific breed, and you wish to talk about a Belgian shepherd
> (which could be a man or a dog) vs. a German shepherd, or an Italian
> shepherd or any other shepherd, then no, the word shepherd would not be
> capitalized. It is when you are referring to this specific breed that
> you must capitalize each word.
>
> An Irish wolfound vs. a Russian wolfhound, in a discussion about
> wolfhounds in general, yes, but specific breed discussions would have to
> be Irish Wolfhound (name of the breed) vs. Russian Wolfhound (specific
> breed but we call it the Borzoi and avoid the entire issue).
> In these situations, the words shepherd and wolfhound are only
> common nouns when they do not refer to a specific breed but to a type of
> dog.
> Peggy
>
> Carolyn McKenna wrote:
>
>> No, Ed, because Dane is a natioinality . Nationalities, German, Dane,
>> French (French poodle),
>> Irish (Irish wolfhound) etc., are capitalized ;common nouns are not.
>>
>>
>
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POST is Copyrighted 2005. All material remains the property of the original
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Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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