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Frequently asked questions for Wikipedia:proper nouns.
"Centurian" vs. "Centurion": Which one is the proper spelling?[edit]
The proper spelling for the Cylon soldier depicted in the original series is "Centurion".
While this screencap references a document from the Miniseries, this is incorrect -- actually, there are some items on this document that are not truly canon and have already been contradicted by other events in the 2004 series. (For instance, the Colonials in the current BSG do not use the term "yahren" for "year".)
We have an example of the proper spelling, taken from a screen capture (with subtitles enabled) of the episode "The Hand of God (TOS)". (See: Spelling.jpg)
Basestar vs. basestar / Battlestar vs. battlestar / Raider vs. raider: Do I capitalize the first letter or not?[edit]
The following can be spelled with or without the capitalization of the first letter. While they may technically fall under proper nouns, they are used in both series as a form of mass noun.
For example, a viper is just a form of aerospace fighter plane. The word plane could be capitalized, but in common usage it isn't. Same with "submarine" or "aircraft carrier".
The following are a list of words in Battlestar that are considered mass nouns:
How do I abbreviate Battlestar Galactica?[edit]
Battlestar Galactica has been abbreviated as "BG" or "BSG" by most fans.
In this Wiki, the preferred acronym is "BSG", as "BG" has a wider meaning in terms of what it abbreviates. (i.e. "BG" is shorthand for "background; see: Wikipedia:BG for the acronym's disambiguation page)
To abbreviate this wiki's name itself, we recommend "BSG Wiki" or "BSWiki."
How should I refer to the show? (Battlestar vs. Galactica)[edit]
If you're writing an article and feel that the acronym doesn't cut it, then you should refer to the series itself as Battlestar.
Media outlets have been known to refer to the series as Galactica as well, which aid in the confusion.
For the purposes of this Wiki, referring to the show using the term Galactica can be easily confused with the actual ship. So, all articles referring to the show should use the term Battlestar as a one-word shorthand. If you referencing the 1978 show, you can also use "Original Battlestar" for clarity.