Re: Question Regarding the W3 Standard

Hello, Jason,

> I'm having a hard time establishing the correct way to use the term
> "website".  I have seen it used several ways including website, Web
> Site, web-site, etc.
>
> Do you have an official stance on the usage of the term?

I don't think W3C has an official stance. :-) The W3C Manual of Style [1] uses
US English and follows the Chicago Manual of Style, Merriam-Webster
Collegiate, and the Gregg Reference Manual. Last I looked they agreed on "Web
site" (two words), see [2] for example.

In the UK, "website" is probably correct.

Generally, I believe W3C always capitalizes "Web" to help signify that the
World Wide Web is one Web.

Here's a similar question from 2001 [3]. It still seems to be about right for
the US. Wired News changed their style, but the Associated Press, Reuters and
the New York Times (US) seem to be using "Web site" as of today as well.

Hope this helps.

[1] http://www.w3.org/2001/06/manual/#Terms
[2] http://www.mhhe.com/ps/buscomm/grm/faqs/index.html
[3] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/site-comments/2001Aug/0005

--
Susan Lesch           http://www.w3.org/People/Lesch/
mailto:lesch@w3.org               tel:+1.858.483.4819
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)    http://www.w3.org/