So which is it; Web site, web site, website, Website? Or WWW site?
Well, that depends on who you ask. Each person will have a very definitive, persuasive answer for you. Still one fact remains; answers are plentiful but a consensus cannot be reached as to which spelling should be etched in stone.
Currently, there are plenty of valid arguments as to which variation to use:
Web site
World Wide Web is a legal trademark, therefore Web should be capitalized
Currently the most commonly used formal spelling
Recognized by Reuters, Microsoft, The New Yorker, academia, and dictionaries such as Oxford
Example: “Coke bottle”
web site
“web” is an adjective describing the noun “site”
Example: “construction site”
Website
Formal compound variation based on the arguments described in “Web site”
website
Informal compound variation based on the arguments described in “web site”
Currently the most commonly used informal spelling
Up to 2 fewer keystrokes than other versions saves valuable time and money
Example: “doghouse”
…..and the list goes on.
In our search, we found that at least three repetitive themes exist…….
The 2-word versions (Web site or web site) are more appropriate for formal writing and are accepted/practiced by recognized organizations
The 1-word or compound versions (Website or website) are acceptable for informal writing and communication due to their look and lack of additional keystrokes
It’s a pretty safe bet that no one is using WWW site
The bottom line is that, believe it or not, this is still a relatively new word and no one organization or committee will be able to dictate how the masses use the term. Only time and popular usage will determine a final answer: Darwinism applied to communication. Until that day comes, just stick with the basic principals of communication: speak in a language that your audience will understand. That means is you use either variation, people will most likely know what you’re talking about.
