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Using Good Grammar On Web Pages
By Robin
Nobles
(Part 1)
With all of this talk about content, don't
you think it's time to have a frank discussion about grammar? Our Web sites are
our online store fronts-our online images. If our sites are full of grammar
errors, what does that say about the professionalism of our
businesses?
The Internet tends to be a more relaxed atmosphere, so should
we expect to see a more relaxed use of grammar on the Net?
No. Just
because the Internet is a different publishing medium, and just because we've
gotten a little lax in our editing or forgotten some of our grammar rules, that
doesn't make it correct.
It's time to pay attention to our own Web pages
and relearn some of the basic grammar rules that we may have forgotten along the
way.
Let's look at what I consider to be some of the top grammar errors
that haunt Web pages:
1. it's = it is
Example: It's perfectly okay
to bring your dog to work at Google. (correct)
Example: It's goal is to
increase productivity by 100 percent by the year 2007. (incorrect)
In
example #2, replace "it's" with "it is." It is goal is to increase productivity
...
Doesn't work, so you know it's wrong. This is one of the most common
errors I see, so comb through your Web pages for this one.
2. Web site
(or page) vs. web site / page vs. Website / website (page)
"The Chicago
Manual of Style" states that Web sites and Web pages are correct. After all,
we're referring to the World Wide Web, so Web should always be capitalized. The
book uses Web pages (sites) as two words.
"Webster's New Dictionary of
the English Language" published in 2006 agrees with Chicago.
However, the
online version of Chicago states, "But generally, I would recommend 'Web site'
for formal writing, but 'website' for informal writing or friendly writing.
Unless, of course, you prefer 'Web site' even when you're being
friendly."
Now let's look at it from a different slant. How do people
search?
Capitalization doesn't matter, because the major engines aren't
case sensitive at this point in time. However, if you're in an industry where
your keywords contain "Web site" or "Web page," you may want to use both
variations (one and two words) on your pages, because people certainly search in
both ways, no matter which is correct.
Think about your target audience
and how they're searching. After all, you want a professional Web site, but your
ultimate goal is to sell your goods and services.
TIP: The titles of
books should be italicized. If the titles are set off by quotation marks here,
it's because I have to turn in my articles in text format. Also, all of the
examples should technically be italicized as opposed to being in
quotes.
3. Periods and commas: do they go inside or outside of quotation
marks, or does it depend on the sentence?
Example: She said, "Periods and
commas always go inside quotation marks, just like this." (correct)
Example:
This is "incorrect", because the comma is outside of the quotation marks.
(incorrect) It should be: This is "correct," because the comma is ...
4.
E-mail vs. email, plus what is the plural of e-mail?
E-mail stands for
electronic mail. According to Chicago, e-mail should contain the hyphen, and it
doesn't have to be capitalized (E-mail).
Here's where it gets
interesting. "The American Heritage Dictionary" considers e-mails to be the
plural version of e-mail.
Chicago says that either is correct. After all,
the plural version of "mail" is "mail." Here are some examples straight from
their Web site:
"How much e-mail do you get each month?"
"Send me some
e-mails when you get a chance."
If e-mail is a keyword for you, you may
want to include "email" on your pages as well. Again, remember your target
audience and the words they will be using when searching for your products and
services.
Honestly, if I could make a prediction based on being an
Internet person, it would be that e-mail evolves into email due to popular
usage. Do you know anyone who uses "e-mails"? I sure don't!
5. SEOs or
SEO's
This is one of those rules where I ran into some contradictory
information. In "The Wordwatcher's Guide to Good Writing & Grammar" by
Morgan S. Freeman, he states:
"How to form the plural of letters and
numbers is a stylistic decision. There are no rights and wrongs, merely eye
appeal. Some writers would write the plural of O.K. with no apostrophe, and
follow suit with the plural of letters (the three Rs) and numbers (the 1930s).
Others think the apostrophe makes for clarity (the three R's, the 1930's).
Consider 'Hooray for the YMCAs.' Take your pick."
Chicago thinks
differently. They believe that capital letters used as words that contain no
interior periods can be made plural by simply adding an "s." However, lowercase
letters do require an apostrophe and an "s."
However, every source agrees
that if interior periods are used, an apostrophe is required, like
Ph.D.'s.
My recommendation? Do whatever works for you and be consistent.
Personally, my choice is SEOs.
(You can read Part 2 of this article here.)
About the Author:
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