APPENDIX B 



Alternative Spellings of Names and Epithets 

 in Bacteriology: Orthographic Variants 



Alternative spellings (orthographic variants) of names or epithets 

 found in the literature of microbiology frequently have resulted from 

 alternative or faulty spelling of Latin words, from faulty or alterna- 

 tive transliteration of Greek words into Latin form, or from faulty 

 or alternative endings used to indicate gender or case when Greek 

 words are transliterated. Authors of new names of taxa and of epi- 

 thets are urged to make choices in conformity with the following 

 recommendations: 



(a) Alternative spelling of names and epithets taken from the 

 Latin. 



1. Classic Latin precedent should be followed in the forma- 

 tion of new names of taxa derived from Latin words hav- 

 ing alternative spellings involving the two diphthongs ae 

 and oe. The spelling of names of taxa in which the clas- 

 sic spelling is not observed may be corrected. 



2. In formation of new names of taxa from Latin words 

 spelled classically with an / but alternatively with pli, the 

 / spelling is to be preferred. Names of taxa of Latin deri- 

 vation spelled by the author with ph may be corrected. 



(b) Alternative spelling of names and epithets taken from the 

 Greek. 



1. In the formation of a compound name or specific epithet 

 from a Greek word which increases in the genitive, it is 

 preferable to use the longer stem unless there is good 

 Greek precedent for the use of the alternative stem or 

 combining form; words otherwise similar, derived one 

 from the short and one from the long form, are not to be 

 regarded as orthographic variants. If based upon different 

 types they are not to be regarded as homonyms. However, 

 when the word constitutes the final component of a generic 

 name, the longer stem should be used in the formation of 

 the names of higher taxa; if the shorter stem has been 

 used the spelling should be corrected. 



2. Of two orthographic variants arising from alternative 

 transliterations of 8t to i or to e, the spelling used by the 

 author in the first valid publication should be accepted. 

 If based ujxjn different types they should be regarded as 

 homonyms. 



3. Names of taxa with alternative spellings arising from 

 transliteration of i] to e or to a are to be regarded as 

 orthographic variants. If based upon different types, they 

 are to be treated as homonyms. The preferred spelling is 

 that used in the first valid publication of the name. 



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