Despite its greatness, the AP Stylebook has a few entries that irk me. One such example is "Web site." Why is it still listed like this? Many professionals ignore the style rule on this word (or words, I suppose), and I don't blame them. I agree that "website" looks better, and, honestly, it makes more sense. Web site sticks out like a sore thumb. Even "web site" would be an improvement.
In press releases and other professional materials I've drafted, I stick to the old fashioned version. For personal use, I usually go with the compound and lowercase version. I admit there have been times where I've actually avoided using the word because of my conflicting view. I don't want anyone in the PR world thinking I don't know AP style (I am looking for a job, after all), but it looks ridiculous and feels so unnatural to write an e-mail or send a tweet that says, "Hey, check out this cool Web site I came across."
Another word that falls into the same category is "Internet." I think we've come to a point where internet no longer needs to be treated as a proper noun, as it's such a widely used and general term.
A third word that I see everyone rebel against AP style with is "e-mail." The AP Stylebook entry hyphenates the word, as do I, but 90% of the time I see the word, the hyphen is left out. I think it makes sense to hyphenate it, when you think of the origin of the word and the fact that most other e- prefixes take on the same format, but I can see why many decide to skip it.
The bottom line is that word usage and meanings evolve, and so should the rules.
So, AP Stylebook, please take note:
- Web site is outdated and unnecessary; website would be much better.
- The same goes for Internet. It's about time it's no longer considered proper.
- Hyphenating e-mail makes sense. Good call. Email is acceptable, though.
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5 comments:
Wow, interesting observations. I personally don't use any style books for doing PR - but I work with small businesses, so maybe it's different. I kind of learned as I went, so it's clear that I need to do some more digging into the proper ways :).
In my college PR classes, following the AP Stylebook was always trumpeted as a golden rule. If you're writing materials that you intend to send out to the press (press releases, feature stories, etc), journalists are more likely to appreciate writing that follows AP style because they'll have less stylistic revising to do if they choose to use your piece.
Also, the AP Stylebook has many great entries, and it makes it simple to stay consistent in your writing. You should really check it out. I think you'd find it useful, regardless of the size of businesses you're working with.
Thanks for the comment!
Your title reminded me of a blogs post of my own: "My Love-Hate Relationship With Choice." Just had to mention it.
Great post. I have a love-hate relationship with AP Style too. It's nice to have a specified style for the sake of consistency. But it can be tedious and ridiculous sometimes ("Internet" is a great example.")
Right now I am working at an integrated marketing communications firm. We do PR, marketing and advertising.
And they aren't strict with AP. A lot of clients have their own "style." And for marketing pieces, you write however conveys the message best. This includes sentence fragments and AP rule breakers.
Hi Rachel- thanks for your comment. I definitely agree that the AP Stylebook makes it easier to stay consistent. I can see why some places would prefer to style things their own way, though. Following the grammar rules all the time can make writing boring and stuffy, especially if you're working on something more on the creative side.
Your comment is the perfect example of "breaking the rules" in a good way. Starting a sentence with a conjunction is taught to be incorrect, but it makes sense in many situations and is becoming more common and acceptable. And I'm glad because I like to do it myself sometimes. :)
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