# Removing an erroneous common name **URL:** \ **Category:** Curators\ **Created:** [March 22, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/removing-an-erroneous-common-name/49800 "2024-03-22T16:03:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jimmylegs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jimmylegs/32/19715_2.png) [@jimmylegs](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jimmylegs)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/removing-an-erroneous-common-name/49800/1 "2024-03-22T16:03:09Z")
Hi, In the group that I work on (Orthoptera), someone has added a common name for a species that doesn’t really have one. They found a photo on a stock photo site labelled with a descriptive name (similar to “tropical grasshopper”) and added that as the common name with a link to the stock photo site. Now if I go in and try to change the name to no common name at all, I get an error message because the box for the name can’t be blank. Can someone tell me how to remove the name? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![thomaseverest](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/thomaseverest/32/63220_2.png) [@thomaseverest](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/thomaseverest)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 4:48pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/removing-an-erroneous-common-name/49800/2 "2024-03-22T16:48:05Z")
You have to put a reason for why you are deleting it into the Note box. ![Screen Shot 2024-03-22 at 12.47.55 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/a/e/aea0a5378c28a8671e6d00776b38b3564d119434.png) ---
**Author:** ![thomaseverest](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/thomaseverest/32/63220_2.png) [@thomaseverest](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/thomaseverest)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/removing-an-erroneous-common-name/49800/3 "2024-03-22T17:58:01Z")
You also have to delete the name, not the text. (Not sure from what you described exactly what you’re doing.) ---
**Author:** ![jasonhernandez74](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jasonhernandez74/32/33615_2.png) [@jasonhernandez74](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jasonhernandez74)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 11:46pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/removing-an-erroneous-common-name/49800/4 "2024-04-25T23:46:37Z")
A few years ago, I entered a common name for an organism because I was sure that I remembered seeing it in one of my books from long ago. But now that I have been able to check both of the books that I thought it could have been, it isn’t there. I have, however, in the meantime used the name in one of my published papers, as if it was an established name that did not require attribution. So now I’m in “a bit of a spot,” as the expression goes. One part of me thinks that I should go back and delete the name; but another part thinks that it’s kind of a fait accompli with the publication. ---
**Author:** ![jdmore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jdmore/32/1116_2.png) [@jdmore](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jdmore)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/removing-an-erroneous-common-name/49800/5 "2024-04-26T00:55:48Z")
> [@jasonhernandez74](#): > > I have, however, in the meantime used the name in one of my published papers Welp, accidentally or not it can now be legitimately sourced, so hope it’s a good one! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2024, 12:56am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/removing-an-erroneous-common-name/49800/6 "2024-06-25T00:56:42Z")
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