rss feedA space, now gone: Web site, Website
Many of you in journalism or who are close to the orbit probably have noticed that the single space that once separated “Web” and “site” has officially been removed, according to a new addition of the Associated Press Stylebook.
So, for journalism copy, the word should be spelled: Website.
Poynter Online’s Mallory Jean Tenore noted that there was ruckus, of sorts, and people used Twitter, among other vehicles, to voice their happiness or concern regarding the change.
She talked with one of the Stylebook editors about the change to the guide that journalists use for consistency in a company and across an industry.
From Sally Jacobsen of The Associated Press:
We decided to make the change because ‘website’ is increasingly common….We also had invited readers and users of the Stylebook to offer us some suggestions for a new social media guide that we’re including in the 2010 Stylebook, and we got a very good response and a large number of people who favored ‘website’ as one word.
Here’s the new entry:
A location on the World Wide Web that maintains one or more pages at a specific address. Also, webcam, webcast and webmaster. But as a short form and in terms with separate words, the Web, Web page and Web feed. See Web.
With AP style, I go with the flow and follow the norm – especially when I work for a journalism outfit or write freelance pieces.
On a personal note, though, years ago, I started typing it as one word – website.
I forgot why I did that. It just came naturally.
Then, I realized the AP style and began adding that extra space.
In a way, it’s not too much of a big deal. If you really don’t want to remember style rules with this word, just use Web as much as you can.
Words change. Usage does, too.
The interesting note, though, is how this word changed became a bit of a process – and that’s something I think ordinary people might not fully understand with journalism, as an institution.
Or at least, that was the sense I had when I worked in journalism: Look for the action for (ordinary) readers. Find the result. Describe it.
Avoid the process (unless it’s really good and takes up hours and hours out of a year).
From that Poynter blog post:
The change, which was formally announced at the American Copy Editors Society conference Friday afternoon, is effective Saturday and will appear in the 2010 Stylebook, which is slated to come out next month.
The online world, though, heard about via Twitter.
Parallel tracks, huh?
This move should save writers time – to say the least. One less space to add, you know.
Regarding ordinary people, here’s my speculative sense: They might not have even known – or cared – about the style in the first place.
Why?
If you’re a one-person online band and run your own blog or participate in non-edited citizen journalism, you might not hear from an editor about the proper style usage.
You’ve always typed website – as have others who have joined the onine information pool – and it works for you (and others).
So, you’ve stayed with it. People understand what you’re talking about.
Now, I’m curious about whether the words “construction site” should follow suit, too.
Any why, in English, is tofu not spelled doufu?
Oh, well, questions, questions.
If you’re interested, though, there is an AP Stylebook app for your iPhone. It costs $28.99.
The White House (still two words) press staff also have their own app for your iPhone, in case you’re wondering.
It’s the first video in that blog post.
