RE: capitalization of 'web'

["Karen Murri" <kmurri -at- comcast -dot- net>]

Thanks for the info. I'll admit I'm not completely convinced yet, though I
plan to look at Bonnie's references more carefully later. "Internet" and
"web" have fallen into such generic usage, I'd place myself firmly in the
lowercase camp, but I wouldn't argue with my employer's style guide (once I
get a job, that is). 

Y'all should know that I've seen some seriously bad over-capitalization in
my career, and I won't capitalize a noun unless I'm absolutely positive that
it's a proper noun in that context. It's just my default behavior. 

Thanks for the interesting discussion.

-Karen

-----Original Message-----
From: Dick Margulis [mailto:margulisd -at- comcast -dot- net] 
Karen Murri wrote:
> Sorry - I just don't get how internet and web are proper names, at 
> least used as I usually see them used.

All right. But you seem to be willing to be educated.


> Names of what separable entity? Forgive my
> (probable) ignorance, but they aren't corporate entities, are they?

There can be many internets. That is, there can me many instances of
computers connected in complex networks that cross company boundaries. 
Private networks exist, such as the banking network that moves money between
banks instantaneously. However, you do not have access to all of those
networks from your home PC. And if you did, you could not send a post to
techwr-l by using one of those private networks. The only network publicly
available to all of us, without restriction, is the unique Internet. That's
the name we call that _particular_ network. If we were characters in a
science fiction tale, we might choose to give it a different name, such as
"Jerry" (or "God," in the case of one story I can think of). But we're not
characters in a science fiction story. 
We're here, in this world, where the name we've all agreed to call this
particular network is "Internet." That's its name. All the other internets
have their own names.

Similarly, there is only a single World Wide Web. It was invented by Tim
Berners-Lee, who is still alive and kicking. The World Wide Web Consortium
("W3C"), a body that Berners-Lee helped found and to which he handed
control, sets the rules for the way the Web works. There may be other webs
but, again, you don't have access to them unless you are member of a private
network on which one of them operates.

Now if you want to argue that corporate software running on a Web server and
accessed by employees through Web browsers are not part of the World Wide
Web and therefore can be referenced with lowercase terminology, I could
probably support your position; however, if


> They
> don't refer to some particular person or organization, do they? Maybe 
> they do, and I just don't know it.

See above.
> 

--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.430 / Virus Database: 268.14.17/553 - Release Date: 11/27/2006
4:00 AM
 

-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.430 / Virus Database: 268.14.17/553 - Release Date: 11/27/2006
4:00 AM
 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help 
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content 
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.