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E-references e-mail is a common noun and is not capitalized. It should always be hyphenated. The same style applies to e-book, e-commerce, e-learning, e-portfolio and similar terms. e-mail addresses -- The preferred format for e-mail addresses is all lowercase. However, if the prefix contains a person's name, cap first letters may be used for the name, Susan.Carrick@wmich.edu, but be consistent. home page -- Internet term referring to the main page in a Web site. Two words, no hyphen, not capitalized. Internet -- Proper noun, always capitalized. Second references to "the Net," capitalized, are acceptable. intranet -- A communication network within an organization or group. Not capitalized. Note that there are hundreds of intranets at WMU, but there is only one worldwide Internet. offline, online -- One word, no hyphen, not capitalized. login, logon, logout, logoff -- One word, no hyphen, not capitalized. If you use login, use logout; if you use logon, use logoff. URL -- Uniform Resource Locator (also Universal Resource Locator), a Web address. The term "Web address" is preferred in University writing. URL is acceptable. See Web addresses. Web -- When referring to the World Wide Web, Web is a proper noun and is capitalized. Hint: In terms such as Web page and Web site, where Web is a separate word, Web is capitalized; but words such as webcam and webmail are common nouns and are not capitalized. Web addresses -- Also known as URLs (see URL). Web addresses are case sensitive. The prefix http:// should not be included when listing a Web address in a correspondence, publication or other printed material. Web page -- Two words, no hyphen. Web is always capitalized. Web site -- Two words, no hyphen. Web is always capitalized. webcam -- One word, not capitalized. (See Web.) Hints for listing Web addresses Several of the following suggestions require working with your Web manager to develop Web addresses (URLs) that are "marketable," which is to say, "easy to remember." Think in terms of toll free telephone numbers. To help you remember a toll free number, a company might choose something that relates to their business, such as "Call toll free 800 YOUR CAR." Corporations are also careful to select URLs that are easy to remember and relate to their name or business. The Web address of the National Football League is www.nfl.com, or simply nfl.com. Not every page in a Web site needs to have a marketable Web address, only the ones you intend to publish. For those pages or sub-directories that have hard-to-remember Web addresses, try to find another way to link the reader to the information. 1. Avoid publishing temporary URLs of pages that will be removed soon. In general, it is best if you can link to the information from your office's or department's home page and offer the home page URL for more information. 2. List the shortest URL possible that will get the reader to the desired information. Which of the two Web addresses below would you be more likely to remember and use? "For more information about the 2001 Brass Festival visit the School of Music on the Web at www.wmich.edu/music." "For more information about the 2001 Brass Festival visit the Web at www.wmich.edu/music/seminars/2001/brass/agend-05.html" 3. Use common English words and intuitive abbreviations when creating URLs. Work with your Web manager to create directory names that are descriptive and helpful in marketing your Web site. Use English words and intuitive abbreviations. Examples of good Web addresses Alumni Association: www.wmich.edu/alumni University Libraries: www.wmich.edu/library School of Music: www.wmich.edu/music Homecoming: www.wmich.edu/homecoming If you know the root directory www.wmich.edu or have it book marked, and if you know how to spell "homecoming," you will probably remember the Web address for homecoming. Top of page

Office of University Relations Western Michigan University Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA (269) 387-8400 university-relations@wmich.edu Revised: May 23, 2007 www.wmich.edu/writing/