Usage of computer and Internet terminology

capitalization and hyphenation

1. email

Lowercase the word email in Calvin publications.

2. Internet

Capitalize the term Internet in Calvin publications.

3. online

Lowercase the word online in Calvin publications.

4. web, web page, website

The term web is lowercased when it stands alone and refers to an address on the World Wide Web (capitalized). The terms web page and web feed are composed of two separate words. The single terms website, webcam, webcast and webmaster are lowercased.

  • CORRECT: “This website lacks content,” griped Luke Robinson repeatedly as he perused the sites of several peer institutions. "That's no way to do web."

email references

Italicize email addresses in running text. Do not use a colon to separate an introductory sentence fragment from an email address.

  • INCORRECT: For more information about the Servetus Club email: hereticon@spit.calvin.edu.
  • CORRECT: For more information about the Servetus Club, email hereticon@spit.calvin.edu.

See also H.colon.2

web address references

1. Refer to the Calvin website as www.calvin.edu, not calvin.edu. Note that the site is italicized and not underlined; do not use Microsoft Word’s blue hyperlink formatting.

  • CORRECT: The Internet address for Calvin University is www.calvin.edu, not www.agentsofrenewalgonewild.com, as reported in a recent Chimes article.

2. Omit unnecessary characters such as http:// when citing a web address in text in Calvin publications. To determine which characters are unnecessary, it is advisable to check a web address online.

  • INCORRECT: For more information on the African and African Diaspora studies program, visit http://www.calvin.edu/academic/african/.
  • CORRECT: For more information on the African and African Diaspora studies program, visit www.calvin.edu/academic/african.

3. When a sentence ends in an Internet address, do not omit the final period. If possible, rephrase the sentence to resolve any ambiguity.

  • INCORRECT: For more information, visit www.calvin.edu
  • CORRECT: For more information, visit www.calvin.edu.
  • REPHRASED CORRECT: Visit www.calvin.edu for more information.

4. When a line break divides a web address, do not insert a hyphen.

  • INCORRECT: When the curious first-year student tried to access www.agentsofre-
    newalgonewild.com    , the screen, inexplicably, went black.
  • CORRECT: When the curious first-year student tried to access www.agentsof
    renewalgonewild.com    , the screen, inexplicably, went black.

5. Do not use a colon to separate an introductory sentence fragment from a web address.

  • INCORRECT: For more information, visit: www.agentsofrenewalgonewild.com.
  • CORRECT: For more information, visit www.agentsofrenewalgonewild.com.

See also H.colon.2