"theory of special relativity" or "special theory of relativity"?

[gib65]

I'm just asking about the proper form of the name of Einstein's theory.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

There are two: the general theory of relativity and the special theory of relativity.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_theory_of_relativity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_relativity

[timo]

I suppose it's "special theory of relativity", even though "theory of special relativity" sounds more familiar to me (probably because that's what it's often called in this forum). Reasons:

- The word-by-word translation from german would be special relativitytheory, "special theory of relativity" seems to come closer to that.

- The Wikipedia link Cap'n gave also uses that formulation.

- It makes more sense: It's a simplification of the theory of relativity for special cases, not a different theory of relativity.