I found this listing of animal group names useful for writing just the right word to describe groups. The imagery associated with some of these terms helps to build thorough descriptions, simply, without relying on the trite or mundane. The fine balancing act comes in pacing and use, of course. As a writer knowing the right word versus “the almost right word” makes all the difference.
For a complete list of animal names, including young and groups, the Wikipedia List of animal names includes male/female, collective noun, collateral adjective, and “trivial” name. Sometimes a cow is a cow.
Maybe, I should change the first name of my ExNihilo antagonist to “Jenny” since she can really be an ass.
Sometimes, the tech writer part of me comes out when I find information sites like these. But, I think attention to details makes for writing right. For example, during a recent review of ExNhilo my proofreader asked about something I wrote about the placement of a piano and organ in a church sanctuary. I’ve always understood the information to be accurate for placement, but I can’t remember I got the information. Of course, now I can “Google it,” but even that didn’t present definitive results. So, I’m still searching for the “correct placement of an organ” in a church. Now, if Wikipedia would list that!
