The fight is amusing and in the end the common folk usually win. Will we call the darn thing a “website” in formal communication any time soon? Probably. But the real question is whether the world will end in fire or in ice? And which will really suffice?
AP StyleBook 2008
Q. I’m just curious as to whether or not AP is considering changing Web site to website. I’ve read some great arguments for it–namely that Internet, or Web, is a specific place and therefore a proper noun, whereas there are a number of websites … it’s simply noun. In your response to my question, can you please explain why AP chooses Web site? – from Montana on Mon, Jan 07, 2008
A. AP decided early on that Web site was a component of the World Wide Web — two words, capital W. However, we lowercase compound nouns based on it (such as webcam). There are no plans to change this.
Q. Why does AP insist on using the outdated “Web site” instead of the more common (at least in venues that do not follow AP style) “website”? Are there instances in which writing it as “Web site” is less confusing than “website,” or is there some other reason? – from Columbus, Ohio on Wed, Jan 16, 2008
A. Actually, Web site (two words) is quite widely used by news organizations, including those with their own style guides. In any case, AP usage isn’t imposed outside.
Q. We follow AP Style at our agency%3B however, it’s starting to feel a bit ‘old school’ to continue using the word Web site (official AP Style) instead of website. I want to follow your guidelines and was wondering if you guys are making a change with regard to how you reference the word. Is it in proper in your book to use ‘website’ instead of ‘Web site?’ – from Sacramento, CA on Tue, May 22, 2007
A. We have no plans at the present to change our style on Web site.
Q. Which is currently accepted: Web site, web site, website, or Website?
A. A lot of people are writing “website.” A lot of people have come to prefer “website.” But formal usage still calls for “Web site,” in recognition of the initiatives of the World Wide Web Consortium (write “Web-site” as an adjective). The most elaborately formal modern American publication I can think of, the New Yorker, still writes “Web site,” but then again, they also write “E-mail,” “coördinate,” and “reëxamine”—they are very particular. We at Chicago are very particular too, and we recommend “Web site.” But our press as a whole is not in the position of publishing a single, unified publication—such as a magazine. It is easier to apply a set of standard rules and never vary from them for one publication, but rules applying to all sorts of books, articles, and other writing must be a little more flexible. Moreover, when a word gets used a lot it tends to lose any awkward edges (and what could be more awkward than a compound formed of one capitalized word and one lowercased word?). Each new book that appears on the scene presents an opportunity for an author to express a usage preference or to demonstrate a familiarity with changing usage.
But generally, I would recommend “Web site” for formal writing, but “website” for informal writing or friendly writing. Unless, of course, you prefer “Web site” even when you’re being friendly.”
