should one capatlize knot names

Chit Chat
1

should one capitalize knot names?

specifically, for clarity, should one capitalize knot names in a sentence?

consulting authors, I’ll note that Ashely does, but his contemporary C.L Day does not.

2

I’ve done & not-done capitalization; and related, on-line HERE, at least,
I tend to italicize knot names (then uncapitalized, mostly).

In short, though, esp. where the writing has a knots focus,
it can be helpful to use capitalization (which will seem more
helpful where there are a lot of knots to name vs. one with
a lone knot that’s repeatedly names :-).

One might also consider that some knot names
do well (better, even) as knot-class/type names
(think “ring bend”, “loop knot” (=OH eye knot), e.g.),
and might thus serve to make that distinction.

–dl*

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I like to capitalize knot names to make them stand out more in a sentence. I used to italicize them, but I eventually found it more trouble. I agree with Dan in that I do not tend to capitalize knot categories. Thus, when a I write about the category of all bowlines, I do not but I do with the Cowboy Bowline.

I do not think there is a right or a wrong way here. It is a matter of personal preference and style. Since I write a lot of handouts for scout leaders, I just try to be consistent.

I just checked many of my favorite websites to see what they do. All sites seemed to capitalize except Wikipedia, where the articles on knots do not (unless it is a proper name). The editors there may enforce particular styles.

4

So I emailed the technical director of the cordage institute, a Sarah Padila. She informs me that knot names are not capatlized, except where those names include a person’s name.

While I think that an appeal to authority is perhaps one of the least convincing ways of settling a question, I’ll accept this and not capatlize knot names.

take care
Andy

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are you writing a boook? let us know :blush:

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you could say that i’m writing a book… very slowly for now. I’be been writing quarterly knot articles in an entertainment rigging journal for a few years now.

Here is a link to one:

https://protocol.esta.org/publication/frame.php?i=814545&p=&pn=&ver=html5&view=articleBrowser&article_id=4719618