UA EDITORIAL STYLE MANUAL

Appendix D: Computer- and Internet-Related Terms

at sign (@)

The "at sign" (@) must be included in all e-mail addresses.

CD

See compact disc, compact discs, CD, CDs.

CD-ROM

The acronym for compact-disc read-only memory, CD-ROM is more widely understood than the spelled-out form and is acceptable in all references.

compact disc, compact discs, CD, CDs

In many contexts, CD or CDs is appropriate in all references for compact disc. If it's likely your readers might read CD as certificate of deposit, however, spell out compact disc on first reference.

database (n., adj.)

desktop (n., adj.)

dial up (v.), dialup (adj.)

disk

Use disk, except as below.

compact disc
digital video disc
laserdisc
videodisc

domain name

The University of Alabama's domain name is www.ua.edu.

download

DVD, DVDs

The abbreviation DVD is acceptable in all references for digital video disc.

e-commerce

e-mail (n., adj., v.)

If beginning a sentence or a line in an address: E-mail. Note the hyphen.

e-mail and Web addresses

Present e-mail and Web addresses in lowercase,* roman type:

jsmith@bamared.ua.edu
www.ua.edu

*A few systems are case-sensitive in the name field (the part of the address that falls before @). When in doubt, check with the owner of the e-mail address.

Although roman type is preferred, consider using bold type to distinguish an address from surrounding copy.

If the numeral 1 is part of the address, use a typeface in which the numeral is clearly distinguishable from the capital I (i) and lowercase l (L).

Include http:// in Web addresses when space permits and when necessary.

Avoid breaking e-mail and Web addresses. If the address will not fit on a line, don't add a hyphen or other punctuation. Break before existing punctuation, such as periods, hyphens, slashes, double slashes, "at" symbols, and tildes:

Visit our home page—www.ua
.edu—for more information.

Contact the director via e-mail at jsmith@bamared
.ua.edu or by telephone at (205) 348-0000.

Avoid ending a sentence with an e-mail or Web address. Consider setting off the address via placement, typeface, parentheses, or color, or repeating the address elsewhere.

For more information, contact our director via e-mail (jsmith@bamared.ua.edu).
For more information, contact our director via e-mail: jsmith@bamared.ua.edu

If you must end a sentence with an e-mail or Web address, go ahead with end punctuation as needed:

The best way to reach the director is via e-mail: jsmith@bamared.ua.edu.

e-zine

FAQ

This abbreviation for frequently asked questions is acceptable for Web usage but not for print publications.

FTP

When space permits and if necessary for the sake of clarity, include Internet protocols such as ftp:// in Web addresses. Uppercase in running text when not part of a Web address.

home page

HTML

HTTP, HTTPS

When space permits and if necessary for the sake of clarity, include Internet protocols such as http:// and https:// in Web addresses. Uppercase in running text when not part of a Web address.

hypertext

information superhighway

Internet, internet, Internet2

Use Internet when referring to the worldwide network of computers and servers using telephone lines to transfer information. Use internet when referring generally to a network of connected networks. Use Internet2 when referring to the network of computers and applications developed by some 140 universities with corporate partners in 1996.

Internet protocols

Some common Internet protocols are FTP, HTTP, POP, PPP, SMTP, TCP/IP. They should be uppercase in running text.

For clarity and when space permits, include such protocols in Web addresses, using lowercase, the colon, and two slashes: e.g., http://domain.org.

Internet service provider, ISP

intranet

An organization's private network of computers.

IS

An acceptable abbreviation for information systems or information services.

LAN

The acronym LAN is acceptable in all references for local-area network.

LexisNexis

link

listserv

log in, log out (v.)

login, logout (n., adj.)

log on, log off (v.)

logon, logoff (n., adj.)

medium (singular), media (plural)

mouse (singular), mouses (plural)

multimedia

Net

An acceptable abbreviation for Internet.

offline

off-screen

online

on-screen

pulldown menu

RAM

The acronym RAM is acceptable in all references for random access memory.

ROM

The acronym ROM is acceptable in all references for read-only memory.

spellchecker (n.), spellcheck (v.)

supercomputer

upload (n., v.)

URL

The abbreviation URL is acceptable in all references for uniform resource locator, the address of a page on the Web.

userid

voicemail (n., v., adj.)

Web address

See e-mail and Web addresses.

webcam

webcast

webmaster

Web page

Web site

World Wide Web, Web, WWW

The World Wide Web is a global information repository application running via the Internet and attributed to Tim Berners-Lee. The formal name and its abbreviation (the Web) should be uppercase except in closed compounds such as webmaster and webcam.

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