How Do You Spell “Home Page?”
October 28, 2009 at 8:06 am
In 1898 someone came up with the idea of putting tea into porous sacks and the “tea bag” was invented. By 1936, the word was being spelled “tea-bag”. In 1977, it was called the “teabag”. I came across this fact in the captivating book by Naomi Baron called “Always On: Language In An Online World” (2008).
We see similar practice with the evolving language of the web – or Computer Mediated Communication. I have always rebelled against e-mail, preferring to use the more (advanced) email. Likewise with online and offline. But strangely, never homepage or insidepage. My proposals are peppered with the original use of the words “home page” and “inside pages” indicating that in this regard I’m back at the very beginning of spelling.
What do you use? Are you consistent? Are you aware?
Tags: online copywriting, Writing for the Web
More Silly Typos
August 5, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I wouldn’t go to a college that had a big obvious spelling mistake on its home page. No, not even if the course was not English. It shows a lack of professionalism. Certainly give the impression of ‘put together at great haste’. I wouldn’t spend €1395 on a course with these guys – Institute of Business & Technology. What do you have to do to become an “Institute” anyway? Can I be the Institute of Spelling & Grammar?
Tags: grammar police, Spelling mistakes
