Winter Bird Atlas Writing Guidelines

* Capitalize the English (common) names of birds, other animals, and plants when they refer to a particular species, based on a recognized source. For example, “Eastern White Oak tree” would be capitalized, but “oak tree” would not; “Red-eyed Vireo” would be capitalized, but “vireo” would not. 

* Taxonomic names of plants and animals are italicized (and in parentheses if used after the common name), e.g., Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris)

* If English names are used for subspecies groups within species, such as ‘Oregon Junco,’ they should be capitalized and enclosed in single quote marks as shown here.

* Single space between sentences

* Use a comma before the last item in a series, e.g., “ . . . birders were focused on a White-faced Ibis, multiple Glossy Ibises, and a Tricolored Heron.” 

* Write out numbers one through nine, use numerals for 10 and up (except in the case of units of measurement — e.g., degrees, minutes, etc.— which should always be numerals.)

* Italicize publication names; article names are set in quotation marks. Examples: the publication Dendroica; the column within titled “From the Research Desk.”

* Do not use an ampersand unless it’s part of a proper name, e.g., Barnes & Noble, Ben & Jerry’s. 

* Use no apostrophes with plural numerals (1920s) or multiple letters (CBCs), except to indicate possession (a 1920’s engine, a particular CBC’s species total)  

* Do not use “+” as in “200+.” Use instead “at least 200,” “more than 200,” “200 or more,” “no less than 200” or other appropriate terms.

* Do not abbreviate location designations such as County, Street, Drive, Route, etc. 

* Watch out for subject-verb agreement. Correct: “a total of 154 was noted.” Incorrect: “A total of 154 were noted.” “Was” used here is referring to the subject: “a” (one single) total, not 154 individuals. 

* Capitalize a formal title when it’s used directly before a name; lowercase it when it’s used alone or set off in a parenthetical clause after the name. For example, OOS President Jim McCormac; Jim McCormac, president of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Barack Obama is the new president of the United States; President Barack Obama.  

* Correct: The Ohio River, the Muskingum River, the Ohio and Muskingum rivers. Alum Creek State Park, Shawnee State Park, Alum Creek and Shawnee state parks. Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned hawks.  

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