Pokemon Capitilization Rules?

[IceKing]

I'm finally rewriting my old fic Whirl Island Quest, and I'm nearly done with Chapter 1 and was wondering about whether certain things relating to pokemon need to be captilized (sp?) or not when I start to proofread. Heres a list of things that I'm wondering if they should be capitlized or not.

1.Pokemon as a term (e.g., I love pokemon!)
2.Pokemon names without commands (e.g., Lewwy likes jigglypuff!)
3.PokeCenter,Pokecenter, or pokecenter
4.Pokemon attacks (e.g., My Jynx can use ice punch, "Jynx, use ice punch!"
5.Other pokemon terms (pokerus, shiny pokemon, water pokemon)


Also, if anyone else has any wonders about other pokemon grammatical terms, you can post it here too in case someone would be able to anwser it

 

[Chibi Pika]

Ooooohh...this is one think that I've been arguing with myself over, particualrly with capitalizing Pokemon names and the term itself. I really don't know...most people say that since we don't capitalize animal names, then Pokemon wouldn't.

Actually...really, I must admit that I capitalize things in all five of those categories. ^^;;; I suppose I like to think of Pokemon more as a term, and their species as more of a name. With attacks, it makes sence that they would, because they're actual set in stone, names of techniques. Now, obviously if the trainer commanded the pokemon to "bite the opponent" you wouldn't capitalize, since it's not the actual attack.

And I alway capitaliza Pokemon Center and PokeMart. I like to think of them as more of a chain then just buildings. Sort of like how business names are capitalized.

I think types like Fire and Water would be, because their categorical (is that a word?) terms. Unless you're like saying that Dragonite is a dragon or something...

~Chibi~;249;<?>;rukario;

 

[Act]

Here's the rules I generally follow, as well as some reasoning behind them:

1.Pokemon as a term (e.g., I love pokemon!)

I'd say no; we don't capatalize 'animal'.

2.Pokemon names without commands (e.g., Lewwy likes jigglypuff!)

That depends. I use the same rules as when you do/don't capatalize mom and dad. When using it as replacement for a name, capatalize (I.E. "Go away!" he said to Jigglypiff.). When useing it as a general noun, don't (I.E. "All of the jigglypuff were pink.")

3.PokeCenter,Pokecenter, or pokecenter

I usually capatalize them, I think. It feels like a proper noun to me, like Stop 'n' Shop or something.

4.Pokemon attacks (e.g., My Jynx can use ice punch, "Jynx, use ice punch!"

Nope. No real reasoning I know of, but I just find it sort of random capatalization; there's nothing that makes it a proper noun, I don't think.

5.Other pokemon terms (pokerus, shiny pokemon, water pokemon)

Pokerus I'm honestly not sure about, but all types (water, fire, etc.) and 'shiny' are just adjectives. You wouldn't capatalize 'tall' 'blue' or 'ugly', would you?

Hope that helps.

 

[Another Fan]

I would capitalize the names of moves such as "Use Conversion 2!" because it is a proper noun. But stuff like "Now, tackle it!" I would leave without.

 

[mindripper]

Basically, the rule for the English language is to simply capitalise everything that is personified, or entails similar use to a pronoun. What Act said was mostly correct, except for the fact that Pokemon in general can be capitalised even if just in general terms, because a Pokemon name has notions of being a pronoun as well. I would liken it more to a scientific name than a general name, and the former are almost always capitalised.

The reason Pokemarts and the like are capitalised is because they would logically be trademarks, and trademarks are capitalised, as they are considered brand names, which are treated as pronouns unless otherwise stated. The same applies for equipment.

The word Pokemon can be capitalised with respect to the trademark, but can be left in lower case as it is just a general term. Thus, we see that only Pokeballs, Pokemarts and the like need to be capitalised for sure, although I would advocate the capitalisation of singular pokemon, especially when addressed by a trainer.

 

[Dragonfree]

I capitalize all of them myself - I just like to capitalize everything that is written with all caps in the games. (That's the way it's done on pokemon.com, anyway, so I just follow that.)

 

[Ryano Ra]

Basically, the rule for the English language is to simply capitalise everything that is personified, or entails similar use to a pronoun. What Act said was mostly correct, except for the fact that Pokemon in general can be capitalised even if just in general terms, because a Pokemon name has notions of being a pronoun as well. I would liken it more to a scientific name than a general name, and the former are almost always capitalised.

The reason Pokemarts and the like are capitalised is because they would logically be trademarks, and trademarks are capitalised, as they are considered brand names, which are treated as pronouns unless otherwise stated. The same applies for equipment.

The word Pokemon can be capitalised with respect to the trademark, but can be left in lower case as it is just a general term. Thus, we see that only Pokeballs, Pokemarts and the like need to be capitalised for sure, although I would advocate the capitalisation of singular pokemon, especially when addressed by a trainer.

Exactly, Mindripper.

I've been having problems with this, people telling me about the capitalization of Pokemon and stuff. I capitalize Pokemon, their names, their attacks, because it seems more respectful than just comparing them to modern nouns and stuff, like 'animal'. I capitalize it for respect, plus, like Mindripper said, I treat it more like a scientific term than a regular, general word.

 

[Saffire Persian]

Personally, I capitalize all of them, even though I've been tempted to not capitalize Pokemons' names unless it's their "Name", instead of referring to its species.

I think that it's mostly a manner of preference, I've seen in in both ways, and as far as I'm concerned, as long as you're consistent, you can do it whichever way you want.

 

[+Chaos Blade+]

All right, let's see:

I. Pokémon names and classifications. [i.e. Salamence - the Tyrannic Dragon Pokémon.]

II. Myths. [i.e. Lugia - the Beast of the Sea.]

III. Types. [i.e. "Ha! Steelix is a Steel-type, so your Muk's Poison-type attacks are ineffective towards it!"]

IV. Attacks. [i.e. "Gyarados, use Aeroblast!"]

That's all I can think of.

 

[Negrek]

I don't capitalize any of them, but that's a matter of personal preference. I don't go harping on other people if they do choose to, because I see it as a matter of personal preference.

 

[indigestible_wad]

I'm finally rewriting my old fic Whirl Island Quest, and I'm nearly done with Chapter 1 and was wondering about whether certain things relating to pokemon need to be captilized (sp?) or not when I start to proofread. Heres a list of things that I'm wondering if they should be capitlized or not.

1.Pokemon as a term (e.g., I love pokemon!)
2.Pokemon names without commands (e.g., Lewwy likes jigglypuff!)
3.PokeCenter,Pokecenter, or pokecenter
4.Pokemon attacks (e.g., My Jynx can use ice punch, "Jynx, use ice punch!"
5.Other pokemon terms (pokerus, shiny pokemon, water pokemon)


Also, if anyone else has any wonders about other pokemon grammatical terms, you can post it here too in case someone would be able to anwser it

I am very opinionated about this subject.

1. the term "pokemon" is a common noun, therefore should be lower-case.
2. Well, in this one it depends. If just talking about the species in generally, then yes, it will be lower-case, but if talking about a specific one, then it will be capitalised.
3. if after a "the," then it would be a common noun, but otherwise I uess it's your call.
4. Well in the first one, where it says "My Jynx," it should not be capitolised, because it is a common noun. The second one is fine as is.
5. Those seem just about right considering they are general terms. The only thing is that pokerus is a highly specific term, but is a disease. I guess it's your call on that too.

Pokemon are like animals. You on't capitolize an animal's names, so you shouldn't capitolize them when they are not names, or in places where capitolization is not needed.

 

[IceKing]

Ok I looked at everyones advice and determined Ill do this

1.Do not capitlize pokemon as a term
2.Capitlize pokemon names outside of commands
3.Spell PokeCenter
4.Captilize attack names in commands and descriptions, but not in cases like "tackle it"
5.Captilize Pokerus, but not the others


Thanks everyone

 

[Ouallada]

1.Do not capitlize pokemon as a term
2.Capitlize pokemon names outside of commands
3.Spell PokeCenter
4.Captilize attack names in commands and descriptions, but not in cases like "tackle it"
5.Captilize Pokerus, but not the others

Pokemon as a term can be capitalised or not. Depends on preference. As some have said, it is a trademark, as well as a brand name, and should then be a pronoun, even when used as a general term.

As for attacks, IMO they should either ALL be capitalised, or NONE.

The rest are pretty much correct.

 

[Dragonfree]

As for attacks, IMO they should either ALL be capitalised, or NONE.

Well, the thing is that in "tackle it" or "bite it", you're not technically referring to the Pokémon attacks Tackle and Bite; you're referring to tackling and biting and if you're going to say that should be capitalized, you could as well put in the narration that "Houndour Bit his opponent" or "Pidgey Tackled with all his might", which just doesn't work.