Quick thoughts: web and grammar

I love a few things: the Internet and computers in general, grammar, language, and houses of bagels.

Leaving all things bagels aside, I want to show you something I just tweeted:

@winni3 At least you have a @gowalla app. I’m still waiting for one that’s supposed to be “coming soon.”

My head almost went all Scanners while typing the “a @gowalla.” Strunk and White, where are you when I need you the most? Is it “a @” or “an @”?

Frankly, I don’t care what it’s supposed to be, both look stupid.

And I will debate this issue in my mind, when I should be working, or sleeping, for weeks.

Login vs. Log in

It’s kind of known, but not really, and it’s only sorta practiced, and it’s maybe only marginally of any importance. But it annoys me dammit, so here I am to ramble on about it.

Let’s talk about the word “login.” And, while were at it, and since it’s the whole reason I brought up the former, let’s talk about “log in” as well.

I’ll keep this short since I know you’re all busy people, but listen up because this matters. “Login” is the noun and “log in” is the verb. If you don’t remember your elementary English, then let me drive the point home with some examples:

Oh darn, I seem to have misplaced my login information.

If you want to sign up for a class don’t forget to log in first.

It’s easy. But why am I bringing it up? That answer is twofold: 1) one of the things I’m selectively neurotic about includes the infinitely entertaining realm of language in technology and the Internet; and 2) developers and/or copyeditors fail to pay attention to the distinction.

The most common example you’ll see is “login” on a button (I’m looking at you, Facebook!) or the occasional “login here.” At least some other powerhouses like Yahoo!, Google, and MSN.com take use the safer “sign in.”

Listen, it all boils down to this: Remember that “log in” is the action, so buttons and links need to be labeled with that text accordingly. And if you have a separate page to sign in to your site/application, then it’s your “login” page.

These words are not interchangeable. Generally the big boys get it right, but that doesn’t mean you smaller developers shouldn’t either. Don’t be a barbarian.

My new favorite entity on Twitter that I refuse to follow

It’s @YourOrYoure.

From its profile:

Policing the English language by automagically shaming a handful of people every day.

Just beautiful. YourOrYoure provides a much needed public service. And if you’re one of my friends, chances are you need it.

But why won’t I follow? If I do, my head will certainly explode.

Twitter, I reject your attempt at a gender neutral pronoun

Dear Twitter:

An attempt at gender neutrality does not validate your decision to abandon simple rules of grammar.

Their? THEM?!

I forsake the singular ‘they’.

EMBRACE THE CAPS LOCK

I joined the Internet during the age of AOL chat rooms.

There were a lot of rules, but probably none more important than THOU MUST NOT TYPE IN ALL CAPS. It’s considered yelling.

And it’s not just an IM thing, nor even an Internet thing. Just don’t do it. IT LOOKS TACKY.

One person has me rethinking this: the glorious Mr. John Hodgman. He uses it appropriately in his amazing books – The Areas of My Expertise and More Information Than You Require. And then he brought it to Twitter land.

@hodgman FOR ALL YOUR ALL CAPS NEEDS.