Comments on: Internet or internet? Should we capitalise the internet? http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet Writing, marketing and technology Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:56:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: edmcw http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet/comment-page-1#comment-733320 edmcw Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:18:13 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-733320 As a proper noun "Internet" should, on the face of it, be capitalised, but when we use the word we nowadays use it in a meaning consistent with other forms of media ("in the newspapers", "on television", "on the telephone", "on the radio"). These phrases no longer principally refer to the thing itself (the physical object that is a newspaper, television, ...), but the medium behind it. Likewise, the phrase "on the internet" no longer principally refers to the place comprising billions of wires, chips and circuitry, but to the medium by which communication is carried. Change happens; let's decapitalise those speed bumps. As a proper noun “Internet” should, on the face of it, be capitalised, but when we use the word we nowadays use it in a meaning consistent with other forms of media (“in the newspapers”, “on television”, “on the telephone”, “on the radio”). These phrases no longer principally refer to the thing itself (the physical object that is a newspaper, television, …), but the medium behind it. Likewise, the phrase “on the internet” no longer principally refers to the place comprising billions of wires, chips and circuitry, but to the medium by which communication is carried.
Change happens; let’s decapitalise those speed bumps.

]]> By: Go Earth! http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet/comment-page-1#comment-712376 Go Earth! Tue, 25 Jan 2011 04:59:33 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-712376 I think you look a little...dated if you write Internet. If you capitalize it, I imagine you also have a Motorola Startac and a Zip drive. I agree with you on the case. As for those arguing that: - The internet is a place: Who says that? It's a global system of computers...it is a network (of networks) and a network is not a place. Cyberspace is also a (unique) place and it is lower case. (I think I would laugh if someone walked up to me and said the internet is a place). - Lots of other people do it: There are lots of people who say 'irregardless' or 'nukular' but that doesn't mean it's correct. That's not much of an argument. - There is only 1 internet: That's been addresed. - The 4th bullet point is basically the same as the 2nd. I think you look a little…dated if you write Internet. If you capitalize it, I imagine you also have a Motorola Startac and a Zip drive.

I agree with you on the case. As for those arguing that:
- The internet is a place: Who says that? It’s a global system of computers…it is a network (of networks) and a network is not a place. Cyberspace is also a (unique) place and it is lower case. (I think I would laugh if someone walked up to me and said the internet is a place).
- Lots of other people do it: There are lots of people who say ‘irregardless’ or ‘nukular’ but that doesn’t mean it’s correct. That’s not much of an argument.
- There is only 1 internet: That’s been addresed.
- The 4th bullet point is basically the same as the 2nd.

]]> By: gia http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet/comment-page-1#comment-675003 gia Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:48:34 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-675003 Capital I. You look like an ignorant ass if you use internet. Capital I. You look like an ignorant ass if you use internet.

]]> By: DaSuthNa http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet/comment-page-1#comment-429612 DaSuthNa Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:24:44 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-429612 We're talking about two words here. The all lower case word - an internet - refers to any network composed of inter-networked networks (!). The second word - The Internet - is a particularly important instance at that, the global inter-network of networks. It's a proper noun. Capitalise. Two words, two meanings. Simple. We’re talking about two words here. The all lower case word – an internet – refers to any network composed of inter-networked networks (!). The second word – The Internet – is a particularly important instance at that, the global inter-network of networks. It’s a proper noun. Capitalise. Two words, two meanings. Simple.

]]> By: --Deb http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet/comment-page-1#comment-409134 --Deb Thu, 15 May 2008 22:38:07 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-409134 Interesting. I don't think I've ever given this particular subject much thought before, but I find that I interchange the capital with the lowercase, and as much as I'd like to say that it depends on the context, when I tried writing out a couple examples, just now, I couldn't settle on one that felt right. How very odd. A question on which I have no opinion whatsoever because I think both answers are equally valid. I can't remember the last time THAT happened! Interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever given this particular subject much thought before, but I find that I interchange the capital with the lowercase, and as much as I’d like to say that it depends on the context, when I tried writing out a couple examples, just now, I couldn’t settle on one that felt right. How very odd. A question on which I have no opinion whatsoever because I think both answers are equally valid. I can’t remember the last time THAT happened!

]]> By: 16 Incredible Conversations about Marketing, Etc. | Word Sell, Inc. http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet/comment-page-1#comment-409068 16 Incredible Conversations about Marketing, Etc. | Word Sell, Inc. Thu, 15 May 2008 16:43:40 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-409068 [...] Stibbe poses a good questions — should we capitalize “internet”? What do you [...] [...] Stibbe poses a good questions — should we capitalize “internet”? What do you [...]

]]> By: The internet at Rage on Omnipotent http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet/comment-page-1#comment-401871 The internet at Rage on Omnipotent Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:40:53 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-401871 [...] a lowercase person. Unlike [...] [...] a lowercase person. Unlike [...]

]]> By: Meryl Evans http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet/comment-page-1#comment-401475 Meryl Evans Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:13:49 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-401475 I used to capitalize it all the time even after Wired declared it would stop capitalizing it. Lately, I've been working with several clients who don't capitalize it and find myself not capitalizing it much. I think the key is to be consistent within a web site, brochure, book, etc. I used to capitalize it all the time even after Wired declared it would stop capitalizing it. Lately, I’ve been working with several clients who don’t capitalize it and find myself not capitalizing it much.

I think the key is to be consistent within a web site, brochure, book, etc.

]]> By: Dan http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet/comment-page-1#comment-401377 Dan Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:21:40 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-401377 I'm down with the Internet crew. I love a good capital, it makes me feel like I'm writing about something important... Most media theorists use the capital, it's the norm in academic work. But then again, who takes language lessons from the outcasts of academia? Hmmm. I’m down with the Internet crew. I love a good capital, it makes me feel like I’m writing about something important…

Most media theorists use the capital, it’s the norm in academic work. But then again, who takes language lessons from the outcasts of academia? Hmmm.

]]> By: Jonathan Sumner http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet/comment-page-1#comment-401076 Jonathan Sumner Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:11:29 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-401076 Hmm. Some very good comments from the above. However, from a purely *subjective* perspective, I don't think that the Internet has become (in its relatively short life) as mainstream as, for example, books, radio or television. That is why I still tend to capitalise the Internet in all my client-related copy ... as well as in my personal e-mails/texts and even in my "snail mail" letters!. However, I take your point, Matthew, about the concept of "speed bumps", which (from past experience) I recall are especially prevalent in legal literature (eg the Company, the Firm, the Contract, the Partners etc!) Incidentally, has anybody posted on this website (or elsewhere) about their views on the correct use of “e-mail” (ie with or without a hyphen and with or without capitilisation)? Personally I prefer lower case, but with the hyphen. Hmm. Some very good comments from the above. However, from a purely *subjective* perspective, I don’t think that the Internet has become (in its relatively short life) as mainstream as, for example, books, radio or television. That is why I still tend to capitalise the Internet in all my client-related copy … as well as in my personal e-mails/texts and even in my “snail mail” letters!. However, I take your point, Matthew, about the concept of “speed bumps”, which (from past experience) I recall are especially prevalent in legal literature (eg the Company, the Firm, the Contract, the Partners etc!) Incidentally, has anybody posted on this website (or elsewhere) about their views on the correct use of “e-mail” (ie with or without a hyphen and with or without capitilisation)? Personally I prefer lower case, but with the hyphen.

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