I got the proofs for an essay yesterday that opens with a mention of Tyrannosaurus rex. “Shouldn’t that be italicized?” asked a co-author. Well, yes. Most publications would say that the scientific names should be italicized. But should it be? Maybe
T. rex should be bold - to suggest the extra space that I'd be willing to cede to a predator of T. rex's stature. Or perhaps italic's tilt does reflect
T. rex's literal posture, as it leans forward chasing its prey. Should I elect an underscore, a subtle nod at italics, or a stylized sketch of the ground across which a
T. rex races? Maybe it’s best to use strikethrough - suggesting what might happen to me should I be too slow to escape a
Tyrannosaurus.
Which brings me to fonts. Serif? Non-serif? I think the serifs hint at the teeth and claws that stand ready to shred a
T. rex’s prey. Leave the smooth roundedness of Arial or Comic Sans to the brontosaurs (though they don't exist? didn't exist?)
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At least according to Wikipedia, brontosaurs are indeed dinosaurs.
And I did correctly correct the proofs and italicize Tyrannosaurs rex. TBH I italicised it, it’s a British publication.
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