Small living organisms should be called micro-organisms or microbes. Calling microbes names like "germs" or "bugs" is not scientific and assumes a student is uncertain about the actual microbe being considered or studied.

Microbiology students are often amazed by the unlimited variety of living organisms and the sometimes confusing names given to living organisms. Learning microbial nomenclature is sometimes overwhelming; but learning the taxonomy (system of organizing, classifying, and naming microbes) helps us to understand the organism that is being discussed. Arranging living organisms into groups helps us to understand the similarities and differences among life forms and place the living organisms in taxonomic groups.