Web Site vs Website

Which is the correct grammatical term?

[DiAMOndDavE]

OK folks,

I have been having a discussion on another list about the word "website" I see used a lot . Surely this should be "web site"? Which is correct?

Peace to all
DiAMOndDavE

[rcjordan]

"web site" = 141,497,086
"website" = 151,710,086

I go with the numbers.

[mack]

I think origionaly it was "web site" but "website" is begining to become a word in it's own right.

[DiAMOndDavE]

Hello rcjordan,
Thanks for the reply. Just curious - where did you get those numbers?
DiAMOndDavE

[aus_dave]

I always use web site but either are correct.

If 'web' is out there by itself it is more useful from a SEO perspective I think. People are more likely to shorten 'web site' or 'website' to just 'web', and if you use 'website' you miss out on this if stemming isn't used by the search engine.

'web design', 'web content' and 'web writing' are all more instinctive than the 'website' form I feel ;).

[Jon_King]

Dictionary.com informs us that 'website' is a new word. Both are correct grammer.

[rcjordan]

>where did you get those numbers?

Alltheweb.com with the quotes.

[BlobFisk]

Google says:

website: 63,800,000
web site: 7,710,000

Interestingly, Google also asks if you mean "website" on a search for "web site".

[Ed_Gibbon]

Google says:
website: 63,800,000
web site: 7,710,000

I often use Google in this manner in cases where I want to determine which of several variant spellings I should use. It makes good sense to use whatever Google says are the most common as it stands to reason that's what searchers will enter into search engines.

[AnneG]

F.Y.I.
According to A.P. Style, the correct way is "web site" (two words) however, it is up to you to create your own style for your web sites. Website and web site both are accepted as being correct. And although I will probably always use "web site" (the die-hard journalist and years of AP Stylebook ingrained in me)both are correct. The only suggestion is to stick to your style and be consistent. This is true with any word, including internet versus Internet or e-mail, email or E-mail.

[jimbeetle]

When I was brainstorming domain names for a new hosting site I noticed that the Overture suggestion tool returns "web site" results when you enter "website"

[eboda]

I base my spelling for "web site" and "website" off of search terms. I do not thing site visitors care much how it is spelled. The focus should be on search terms no? A study of server logs and a look at what popular search terms are in search engines will tell you a lot.

I agree Jimbeetle - "Web site" is the suggested term for search results.

Example: web site design
vs.
Example: website design

Overture tool can be found here:
[inventory.overture.com...]

However, Google prefers "website" as the correct spelling. When using search term "web site" Google will suggest "Website" who to please? I do not think Google should suggest otherwise "web site" vs "website" because both could be correct search terms.

Good topic anyway.. I could go on :)
Enjoy!
-

[edited by: eboda at 6:10 pm (utc) on Jan. 29, 2003]

[digitalghost]

Web site, Website, it is all academic. Create enough pages and optimize for both.

[eboda]

oops double post sorry.

[kingskid]

I work at a newspaper and our style rules say Web site is the correct term. I'm trying to convince them to adopt website, though because that seems to be the more common term in use.

[frappyjohn]

The real purists say it's "Web site" (note the capitalized W) since Web is a proper noun! (There is only one World Wide Web, they explain).

[quiet_man]

>>The real purists say it's "Web site"

As you began your sentence with a capital 'T' and ended it with a full stop, I assume you are a 'real purist' too! A 'web site' would be the place where spiders hunt. A Web site would be a site on the WWW. Yours pedantically ... :-)