Capitalization Rules

Same as Hrae, although I usually capitalize the species name no matter the circumstance. As for the trainer classes, I usually would as I consider them titles.

 

The only time I ever capitalize the name of the species, is when I'm using it as a name.
Here's an example:
[When I dont use caps] "Oh my god! Why does that snorlax keep eating all my food!?!"
[When I do use caps] "Hey, Quilava, guess what. While you were resting, Squirtle learned how to use hydropump."

I know theese examples probably didnt help you one bit, but at least I thied to explain what I ment.

 

Typically you don't use capitalization for animal species unless it's the first word in a sentence like: Snakes are my favorite animal!

Now if it's: My favorite animal is (animal species)! then capitalization should not be applied.

Same should go to Pokémon. Now if the individual Pokémon's name is the same as its species, then it can be capitalized as long as you're referring to it instead of the species as a whole.

For example: "I like to surf on lapras."
This would mean that someone enjoys surfing on the lapras species as a whole.

Now: "I like to surf on Lapras."
Lapras is the name of that particular Pokémon (assuming it is a Lapras)

Now here's where it gets tricky: "I like to surf on Lapras. It reminds me of Lapras." It's a good indicator of what I'm talking about instead of capitalizing both Lapras in the sentence. Even though I capped both; the first mention was of the species while the second referred to the individual. The species' name can only be capitalized if it's going as the first word in a sentence.
Best way I find to avoid this is to nickname your Pokémon. Gives them more individualization and you're free to capitalize it's name however you wish.

As for trainer classes; I will capitalize formal titles like Gym Leaders, Elite Four and League Champions as well as nicknames should they get one. Others like bug catcher, youngster, ace trainer do not get this.

 

I capitalize species names regardless because it looks weird when lowercased LMAO

 

I don't have a preference. It has confused me but I just switch between capitalizing and not capitalizing just because sometimes I forget which one I used last time.

 

I used to capitalize everything, but after really thinking about it objectively, using standard English rules, it makes more sense to not capitalize them unless a trainer is referring to a specific Pokémon that does not have a nickname. As for the trainer titles, if they referred to themselves with their particular title, then yes I would capitalize it as that is their nickname/title, but not otherwise.

 

I capitalize all Pokémon names and Trainer classes. I dunno why, but I picked it up and it's too late to change.
#MissingNo

 

I capitalize species names no matter what. It's how they actually do it game, and it just looks so lazy without the uppercase letter. I also do it because I find it hard to pick out a Pokémon name when uncapped as it just blends in with the rest of the words.

Example (with caps): My favorite Pokémon is Sceptile! I use this example.
Another example(without caps): My favorite Pokémon is sceptile! This one looks lazy...

And before you say, "but you wouldn't capitalize dog or cat! Your fanfic sucks because it's not real English!" keep in mind the canon games from Gen V use this approach to capitalization (ex: a wild Pidove appeared! compared to: A wild pidove appeared! So lazy!)

As for titles, formal (Champion, Gym Leader, Coordinator) and "normal" (Ace Trainer, Youngster, Swimmer) are capped as well. Once again, just looking at what the games have set up and established as their rules, all of which I merely follow.

 

I capitalise trainer classes, but I don't capitalise Pokémon names unless the Pokémon doesn't have a nickname. Fr example, I write 'Ash's pikachu' as lowercase, as he is Ash's pikachu, while 'Ash's friend: Pikachu' is capitalised as it's referring to a specific pikachu. I used to write all Pokémon names with a capital, and then somebody pointed out to me that you don't capitalise animals' names, like birds and cats, so I stopped.

 

I capitalize the Pokémon species even if they have another name (like 'Coal the Tepig') because I see the different Pokémon names like scientific names, where the first word is always capitalized (like Homo sapiens, the scientific name for humans).

 

While I've gotten into the habit of capitalizing Pokémon and species names, I think @Mandriel and @Barandofl are more technically correct: If we think of pokémon as a whole in the same way as we think of human, then it ought not be capitalized. Similarly, for species names, unless referring to a specific pokémon of that species, that also ought to be lowercase.

However, though that is technically correct, I believe that it is up to creative choice whether or not to capitalize these words, since they can be seen as names or titular nouns. Whenever advertising their games, GameFreak typically capitalizes the names of their pokémon, as well as Pokémon itself, though that is specifically an advertising gig. In game, it helps the player pick out important Pokémon names.

Personally, I agree with @SkittleBox . Capitalizing helps it pop out more to the reader. (Though I disagree on the technicality of the capitalization of titles, she is correct in that it carries the spirit of the earlier statement on capitalization as a style choice.)