Comments on: Internet or internet? Should we capitalise the internet? http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet How to communicate Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:16:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: DaSuthNa http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#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-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-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-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-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-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-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.

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-400855 David Bradley Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:31:14 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-400855 Do we capitalise the "world"? I don't think I do. I'd capitalize the Earth, cos that's a proper noun. Capitalizing the internet, is like capitalizing "the Sky". That said, I just follow client housestyle or is that HouseStyle? db Do we capitalise the “world”? I don’t think I do. I’d capitalize the Earth, cos that’s a proper noun. Capitalizing the internet, is like capitalizing “the Sky”. That said, I just follow client housestyle or is that HouseStyle?

db

]]> By: Peter http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-400809 Peter Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:55:02 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-400809 If we only think of The Internet as a medium, as Wired seems to do, then it would make sense to use lower-case. E.g. "internet broadcast" (without that all important "The"). But The Internet is also an entity, like The World or The Borg, and in that context it should most certainly be capitalised. Wired's analogy is broken. "The radio" is a class of device, whereas "radio" is a medium. Compare: movable type -- the book radio -- the radio television -- the television set The Internet -- the home computer I don't consider Wired an authoritative source on *anything*. There are also historical reasons for capitalising. The term "internet" originated as an abbreviation for "inter-network", meaning two or more networks hooked up together to act as if they are one. Under this obsolete usage, a Wi-Fi laptop talking through a Wi-Fi / Ethernet hub to a PC on an Ethernet cable would be termed an inter-network, or an internet. The Internet was the proper noun for an internet with special status, just like, say, The Pill or The War. If we only think of The Internet as a medium, as Wired seems to do, then it would make sense to use lower-case. E.g. “internet broadcast” (without that all important “The”). But The Internet is also an entity, like The World or The Borg, and in that context it should most certainly be capitalised.

Wired’s analogy is broken. “The radio” is a class of device, whereas “radio” is a medium. Compare:

movable type — the book
radio — the radio
television — the television set
The Internet — the home computer

I don’t consider Wired an authoritative source on *anything*.

There are also historical reasons for capitalising. The term “internet” originated as an abbreviation for “inter-network”, meaning two or more networks hooked up together to act as if they are one. Under this obsolete usage, a Wi-Fi laptop talking through a Wi-Fi / Ethernet hub to a PC on an Ethernet cable would be termed an inter-network, or an internet. The Internet was the proper noun for an internet with special status, just like, say, The Pill or The War.

]]> By: Sherrilynne Starkie http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-400737 Sherrilynne Starkie Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:00:36 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/internet-or-internet-should-we-capitalise-the-internet#comment-400737 I blogged about this very subject last year. A lively debate ensued...http://strivepr.com/wordpress/2007/08/10/capitalisation-of-the-internet/ I blogged about this very subject last year. A lively debate ensued…http://strivepr.com/wordpress/2007/08/10/capitalisation-of-the-internet/

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