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Subject:Re: URLs and the use of the possessive From:Martyn Perry <Martyn -dot- Perry -at- Sun -dot- COM> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 8 Nov 2001 09:28:44 -0800 (PST)
Do let us not strain at gnats. Both forms are correct and of ancient lineage.
Which brings us, as in most of these discussions, down to style.
The Microsoft web site has web site modified by a proper noun used as a proper
adjective. Microsoft's web site has a proper noun in the genitive singular.
Neither one is better nor worse than the other, nor even preferable, although
consistency within a document is probably good. Also if the document is going to
be translated in certain languages, the form with the genitive may be
preferable.
Notice also that I prefer web site to Website or Web site or Web Site or ....
because "web" in "web site" is not a proper noun. Others may have other
conventions and that is fine too. There is no academy of English as there is
for French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese; hence, it comes down not to appeal
to authority, but to custom, preference, or dialect or any combination of these.
Martyn
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