# \#etiquette **URL:** https://forum.inaturalist.org/tag/etiquette/146.md [Latest](https://forum.inaturalist.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://forum.inaturalist.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://forum.inaturalist.org/tags.md) --- ## [What's the etiquette for journal posts and tagging for photo credit?](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-etiquette-for-journal-posts-and-tagging-for-photo-credit/84325)
**Author:** [@john1kelly](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/john1kelly)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2026, 11:50am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-etiquette-for-journal-posts-and-tagging-for-photo-credit/84325 "2026-08-24T11:50:15Z")
Hi nature people, I’m working on a journal post to the Western Hemisphere species of the genus Hackelia and I am using exemplary observations to show key features of each species. I have used only photos from observati… --- ## [Identifying based on location](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/identifying-based-on-location/79469)
**Author:** [@timo27](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/timo27)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/identifying-based-on-location/79469 "2026-06-03T00:27:53Z")
So I’ve just started identifying and I have a question concerning identification and species ranges. I take issue with the act of identifying cryptic species to species level just because of the location, which is someth… --- ## [Lack of Reasoning on Disagreements](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/lack-of-reasoning-on-disagreements/75635)
**Author:** [@wyattsibilia](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/wyattsibilia)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/lack-of-reasoning-on-disagreements/75635 "2026-02-24T12:52:42Z")
I like to spend time identifying Woodpeckers in the United States. Recently I have taken to going through “Needs ID” posts with the “Disagreements” filter and have noticed that an unsettling amount of users provide no re… --- ## [How do you approach observations where some IDers say the evidence is lacking on key traits but others say there is no other species it could be?](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/how-do-you-approach-observations-where-some-iders-say-the-evidence-is-lacking-on-key-traits-but-others-say-there-is-no-other-species-it-could-be/74975)
**Author:** [@einsum](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/einsum)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2026, 4:56pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/how-do-you-approach-observations-where-some-iders-say-the-evidence-is-lacking-on-key-traits-but-others-say-there-is-no-other-species-it-could-be/74975 "2026-01-25T16:56:25Z")
Although I understand what quantifies as gold standard in provable IDs (say genitalia in spiders except in very rare cases) and other sides of what fits best given current evidence. I routinely see this same discussion p… --- ## [Identification Etiquette on iNaturalist - Wiki](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/identification-etiquette-on-inaturalist-wiki/1503)
**Author:** [@jdmore](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jdmore)\ **Replies:** 203\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/identification-etiquette-on-inaturalist-wiki/1503 "2025-11-03T00:58:37Z")
Background The intended emphasis here is on general etiquette and best practices of identification with an eye toward newer users, not on the technical details of specific identification issues. I intentionally stayed … --- ## [I'm a newbie needing expert advice: how should I deal with "proactive incompetence"?](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/im-a-newbie-needing-expert-advice-how-should-i-deal-with-proactive-incompetence/49021)
**Author:** [@cesarebrizio](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cesarebrizio)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/im-a-newbie-needing-expert-advice-how-should-i-deal-with-proactive-incompetence/49021 "2024-02-25T15:27:15Z")
Dear all, please excuse my English. I began using iNaturalist since a little more than a week, and I’m in difficulty with its founding phylosophy, “anybody may give his opinion”. While I’m immensely eager to get educa… --- ## [What is the etiquette around flagging ambiguous/low quality observations](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-is-the-etiquette-around-flagging-ambiguous-low-quality-observations/46473)
**Author:** [@AdaShovelace](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/AdaShovelace)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2023, 12:01am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-is-the-etiquette-around-flagging-ambiguous-low-quality-observations/46473 "2023-11-02T00:01:12Z")
Say for example I see an observation of a bird that it just a dark silhouette against the sky. It’s been research quality confirmed, perhaps because the auto suggest system gives a species level suggestion Yet looking a… --- ## [ID Etiquette - Do's & Don'ts](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/id-etiquette-dos-donts/46435)
**Author:** [@AlanM](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/AlanM)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2023, 5:05am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/id-etiquette-dos-donts/46435 "2023-11-01T05:05:17Z")
Is it good practise to make an attempt at an ID of one’s own observation, or is it best to leave it as “Unknown” and wait for others with greater knowledge to come along? --- ## [Etiquette around Annotations and Observation Fields](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/etiquette-around-annotations-and-observation-fields/37374)
**Author:** [@Michelle](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Michelle)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/etiquette-around-annotations-and-observation-fields/37374 "2022-11-25T16:17:09Z")
Hi, I would have thought it important to enter annotation and observation fields, but I notice some people leave them completely blank. Two questions: Is it important to fill them in? What if you are looking at someo… --- ## [Mentioning etiquette](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/mentioning-etiquette/36080)
**Author:** [@mabuva2021](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/mabuva2021)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2022, 3:50am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/mentioning-etiquette/36080 "2022-10-08T03:50:27Z")
When you want to mention someone in an observation to have them look at it, what is the most polite way to do it? I feel like sometimes I write out long-winded paragraphs explaining why I mentioned them. But I also feel … --- ## [General consensus on etiquette regarding recruiting IDs from specific identifiers?](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/general-consensus-on-etiquette-regarding-recruiting-ids-from-specific-identifiers/1791)
**Author:** [@benjaminlancer](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/benjaminlancer)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2021, 4:47am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/general-consensus-on-etiquette-regarding-recruiting-ids-from-specific-identifiers/1791 "2021-02-03T04:47:43Z")
For example, Lets say I have an observation that I think is some species, X or at least belongs in genus or family X. I upload it, and it seems to go under the radar for a while. Should I go into the page for X, find th… --- ## [Etiquette for ID of species with no visual differences](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/etiquette-for-id-of-species-with-no-visual-differences/9513)
**Author:** [@edolis](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/edolis)\ **Replies:** 157\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/etiquette-for-id-of-species-with-no-visual-differences/9513 "2020-01-23T18:07:58Z")
Is there a shared etiquette/guideline for ID of species within the genus where there is no visual clue for the correct identification (precise determination possible only dissecting the specimen for instance)? I see dif…