Re: Is it time to stop capitalizing the word 'web'? (was: Is it time to stop capitalizing the word 'internet'?)

[Janet Swisher]

Reviving this old thread, as this came up again in the context of
developer marketing.

More "authorities" are switching to lower-case for at least "web" and in
some cases "internet":

* http://www.poynter.org/2016/ap-style-change-alert-dont-capitalize-internet-and-web-any-more/404664/
* Chicago Manual of Style:


7.76Terms like “web” and “Internet”

In keeping with Chicago’s recommendations elsewhere (see 8.67
<http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/16/ch08/ch08_sec067.html>),
generic terms that are capitalized as part of the official name of a
system or an organization may be lowercased when used alone or in
combination. (In a departure, Chicago now considers /web/ to be
generic when used alone or in combination with other generic terms.)

I believe our audience of web developers (who value economy in typing)
are more likely to use and expect lower case for these words as well.

I propose that we change the MDN style guide
(https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/MDN/Contribute/Guidelines/Writing_style_guide)
to allow lower case for "web" and "internet".

Thoughts?


On 7/30/15 0:50, Julien / Sphinx wrote:
> Well as per the French, we capitalize the noun but let go the adjective with a lower case 'w' . Seems to be the rule here <insert beret and baguette here/>
> Like:
> - "The Web is awesome"
> - "I love web technologies"
>
> Mes deux centimes :)
> Julien / Sphinx
>
> --- Original Message ---
>
> From: "Eric Shepherd" <eshe...@mozilla.com>
> Sent: 30 July 2015 05:01
> To: "Janet Swisher" <jswi...@mozilla.com>
> Cc: "dev-mdc" <dev...@lists.mozilla.org>
> Subject: Re: [dev-mdc] Is it time to stop capitalizing the word 'internet'?
>
> Janet Swisher wrote:
>> http://www.newrepublic.com/article/122384/stop-capitalizing-word-internet
>>
>> And maybe also 'the Web'?
> I'm... torn on "the Web." I mean, it's still technically the World Wide
> Web, so "Web" should be capitalized. But common usage blah blah. I don't
> like it at all but maybe it's time for me to let the kids play on my
> lawn on this one.
>
> "Internet," however, I'm less willing to be forgiving about. The word
> "internet" describes any network comprised of smaller networks connected
> together. The global Internet is a specific construct with a specific
> name (which annoyingly shares the same word, overloaded). :)
>
> --
>
> Eric Shepherd
> Senior Technical Writer
> Mozilla <https://www.mozilla.org/>
> Blog: http://www.bitstampede.com/
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/sheppy
> Check my Availability <https://freebusy.io/eshe...@mozilla.com>
> _______________________________________________
> dev-mdc mailing list
> dev...@lists.mozilla.org
> https://lists.mozilla.org/listinfo/dev-mdc
> MDN contributor guide: http://bit.ly/ContributorGuide
> Doc project Trello board: https://trello.com/b/HAhl54zz/status

--

Janet Swisher <mailto:jREMOVE...@mozilla.com>
Mozilla Developer Network <https://developer.mozilla.org>
Community Strategist

[Chris Mills]

Much as it feels wrong, I have to agree with you. ;-)

We should move with the times.

Chris Mills
Senior tech writer || Mozilla
developer.mozilla.org || MDN
cmi...@mozilla.com || @chrisdavidmills

[Danielle Vincent]

Ok, so is this an official decision? I have to direct some people on this particular issue today for the Mozilla developer newsletter sign-up page. :)

Cheers,
Danielle

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The Sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” - Alexander Graham Bell

dvin...@mozilla.com <mailto:dvin...@mozilla.com>
Assembler of Words, Mozilla Developer Network
Twitter: @MozDevNet
Twitter: @ViewSourceConf