Collective Animal Nouns Rule

This rule enforces proper usage of traditional collective nouns for various animal groups, replacing generic terms like "bunch," "group," "pack," "flock," or "herd" with their proper collective nouns. The rule is important because using the correct collective noun adds precision and sophistication to writing, respecting the rich tradition of specific terminology in the English language for groups of animals.

Examples:

  • Will flag: "a group of crows"

    • Suggests: "a murder of crows"

  • Will flag: "a bunch of cats"

    • Suggests: "a clowder of cats"

  • Will flag: "a pack of foxes"

    • Suggests: "a skulk of foxes"

  • Will flag: "a herd of rhinoceros"

    • Suggests: "a crash of rhinoceros"

  • Will flag: "a flock of peacocks"

    • Suggests: "a muster of peacocks"

The rule is case-insensitive and will automatically suggest the proper collective noun when it encounters any of the generic terms (bunch/group/pack/flock/herd) used with the specified animals. These corrections help maintain a higher standard of writing while preserving these traditional and colorful expressions in the English language.

Rule Source

This rule comes from: https://github.com/mesosphere/dcos-docs-site

Rule Definition

extends: substitution
message: Consider using '%s' instead of '%s'.
ignorecase: true
action:
  name: replace
swap:
  (?:bunch|group|pack|flock) of chickens:    brood of chickens
  (?:bunch|group|pack|flock) of crows:       murder of crows
  (?:bunch|group|pack|flock) of hawks:       cast of hawks
  (?:bunch|group|pack|flock) of parrots:     pandemonium of parrots
  (?:bunch|group|pack|flock) of peacocks:    muster of peacocks
  (?:bunch|group|pack|flock) of penguins:    muster of penguins
  (?:bunch|group|pack|flock) of sparrows:    host of sparrows
  (?:bunch|group|pack|flock) of turkeys:     rafter of turkeys
  (?:bunch|group|pack|flock) of woodpeckers: descent of woodpeckers
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of apes:         shrewdness of apes
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of baboons:      troop of baboons
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of badgers:      cete of badgers
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of bears:        sloth of bears
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of bullfinches:  bellowing of bullfinches
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of bullocks:     drove of bullocks
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of caterpillars: army of caterpillars
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of cats:         clowder of cats
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of colts:        rag of colts
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of crocodiles:   bask of crocodiles
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of dolphins:     school of dolphins
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of foxes:        skulk of foxes
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of gorillas:     band of gorillas
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of hippopotami:  bloat of hippopotami
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of horses:       drove of horses
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of jellyfish:    fluther of jellyfish
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of kangeroos:    mob of kangeroos
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of monkeys:      troop of monkeys
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of oxen:         yoke of oxen
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of rhinoceros:   crash of rhinoceros
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of wild boar:    sounder of wild boar
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of wild pigs:    drift of wild pigs
  (?:bunch|group|pack|herd) of zebras:       zeal of wild pigs
  (?:bunch|group|pack|school) of trout:      hover of trout