[comp.dcom.sys.cisco] capitalizing [C]isco

tjs@uh.msc.umn.edu (Tim Salo) (09/30/90)

> I vaguely recall that the correct English treatment is:
> 	[C]isco has requested that its name never be capitalized.
> That being ugly (and perhaps incorrect), the best alternative may well
> be to avoid using "cisco" at the beginning of a sentence (this being
> similar to the best way to avoid the use of "he" or "his" as the
> generic singular pronoun--recast the sentence in the plaural)
> Jeffrey Siegal

Cisco is inconsisetent in their capitalization of "cisco" at the
beginning of sentences and in headlines.

o	Cisco marketing brochures capitalize "cisco" at the beginning
	of sentences.

o	cisco "Packet" editors do not capitalize "cisco" at the
	beginning of sentences nor in headlines.

I can draw two observations from this:

o	Cisco/cisco has provided ample precedents for others to
	exercise reasonable editorial license in this matter.

o	Cisco/cisco apparently has different opinions about the
	editorial rigor of those who read marketing brochures
	versus those who read technical newsletters.  [And so
	we might ask ourselves which group we prefer to fall into.]

Given all this, if cisco had to do it all over again, would they
capitalize cisco?

Tim Salo
tjs@msc.edu
(612) 626-0347