AP Styleguide strips the ‘internet’ of its proper noun status

The AP Stylebook — an influential media style guide that shaped online writing styles the world over — has announced on Twitter that it will no longer refer to the internet as a proper noun, using a lower case I instead.

The change will come into effect when the 2016 version of the Stylebook launches, and also marks a change in the way the world sees the internet.

As the internet grows, it becomes a more “decentralised”, ubiquitous web of communication and information, Thus referring to it as a proper noun, or a single, defined entity, doesn’t quite make sense.

Oh, and the “web” mentioned earlier will also be referred to as the “web” with a lowercase W.

We will lowercase internet effective June 1, when the 2016 Stylebook launches. #ACES2016 pic.twitter.com/vv53323GL6

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) April 2, 2016

While our style won’t change (we’ve been referring to the “internet” for centuries on Memeburn), it will undoubtedly annoy countless interns and journalism students the world over.

Feature image: Julian Burgess via Flickr