Home World Highlights

The Ultimate 2024 AP Style Guide: How To Write 'Wi-Fi' And 25+ Essential Tech Terms

• minute read
Contents

The Associated Press Stylebook is the undisputed authority for journalists, public relations professionals, and content creators globally, and navigating its rules for technology can be a minefield. As of today, December 24, 2025, the most common and persistent style question—how to write Wi-Fi—has a firm answer, but the rules for other essential digital terms like internet, email, and especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) have undergone significant, recent revisions. Ignoring these style changes can instantly date your content and undermine your credibility, making a deep dive into the latest guidance absolutely essential for anyone publishing fresh, authoritative material.

The digital landscape evolves daily, and the AP Stylebook consistently releases new editions to keep pace, with the latest guidance focusing heavily on emerging technologies and digital security. This comprehensive guide breaks down the definitive Associated Press style for the most common—and most frequently misused—technology terms, providing a clear, entity-rich reference that ensures your writing is both modern and impeccably styled. From the proper capitalization of Wi-Fi to the recent shift to lowercase internet, mastering these nuances is the key to maintaining professional consistency.

The Definitive AP Style Guide for Wi-Fi and Core Internet Terms

The world of connectivity revolves around a few core terms, and the AP Stylebook provides clear, consistent rules for each. Getting these fundamental terms right is the first step in establishing topical authority in your writing.

Wi-Fi: The Style Rule That Never Changes (Mostly)

The proper AP style for the wireless networking technology is a source of constant confusion, but the rule itself is straightforward. The correct spelling is Wi-Fi, always capitalized and with a hyphen.

  • Wi-Fi: Always use the hyphenated term. It is a trademarked term derived from "Wireless Fidelity," though AP does not capitalize "Fidelity."
  • Incorrect: Wifi, WiFi, wi-fi, wi fi.
  • Example: "The coffee shop offers free Wi-Fi to all its customers."

The Lowercase Revolution: Internet, Web, and Email

One of the biggest style changes in recent years was the move away from capitalizing the foundational terms of the digital world. This change reflects their evolution from proper nouns to common, everyday terms.

  • internet: Lowercase. The AP Stylebook announced this change in 2016, reflecting that the term is now a generic noun.
  • web: Lowercase. Similarly, web is lowercase when referring to the World Wide Web.
  • website: One word, lowercase. This is the preferred term over Web site.
  • webpage: One word, lowercase.
  • webmaster: One word, lowercase.
  • email: One word, lowercase, no hyphen. This is a common error, but AP style is clear: email.
  • URL: Acceptable on first reference for Uniform Resource Locator.

Mastering the Latest AP Style for E-Terms and Mobile Technology

As commerce and communication shift to mobile devices and digital platforms, new style rules have emerged to standardize terms that often appear with confusing hyphens and capitalization.

E-Commerce and E-Book: The Hyphen Dilemma

The AP Stylebook has a mix of rules for terms starting with 'e-'. The key is to memorize the exceptions, not the rule.

  • ecommerce: One word, lowercase, no hyphen. This is a crucial distinction from e-book.
  • e-book: Hyphenated and lowercase. This includes related terms like e-book reader.
  • e-reader: Acceptable on second reference for e-book reader.
  • e-sports: Hyphenated and lowercase. This term, which has gained popularity in recent years, follows the hyphenated style.

Mobile and Social Media Terminology

The names for the devices and platforms we use daily are also subject to specific AP rules, promoting simplicity and consistency.

  • smartphone: One word, lowercase.
  • app: Acceptable on first reference for application. Always lowercase.
  • social media: Two words, lowercase.
  • Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok: All are capitalized as proper nouns, and their associated verbs (e.g., tweet, retweet) are lowercase.
  • blog: Lowercase. The verb form is blogging.
  • podcast: One word, lowercase. The verb form is podcasting.
  • livestream: One word, lowercase.

Crucial 2024 Updates: AP Style for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Security

The most significant and recent changes to the AP Stylebook revolve around rapidly evolving fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. These updates, particularly those from the 57th edition, are vital for any modern article and demonstrate a high level of topical authority.

Navigating the World of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The 2024 AP Stylebook introduced extensive guidance on AI, not just on spelling, but on the language used to describe the technology.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): Use the full term on first reference, but AI is acceptable on first reference in headlines or technical contexts.
  • Algorithm: A set of detailed, step-by-step instructions for solving a problem or accomplishing a task.
  • Generative AI: The term for AI systems that can create new content (text, images, code).
  • Machine Learning: Do not hyphenate. This is the process that allows AI systems to learn from data.
  • Avoid Anthropomorphism: A key rule is to avoid language that attributes human qualities to AI. Do not say an AI "believes," "wants," or "claims." Instead, use neutral verbs like "says," "states," "recommends," or "generates."
  • Deepfake: One word, lowercase.

Digital Security and Data Terms

Consistency is key when discussing digital threats and data management.

  • cyberspace: One word, lowercase.
  • cybersecurity: One word, lowercase. This is the preferred term over information security or IT security in most contexts.
  • data: AP style treats data as a collective noun that usually takes singular verbs, a departure from traditional grammar. Example: "The data is compelling."
  • hacker: Use this term carefully. It should refer to a person who illegally gains access to a computer network, not simply a skilled programmer.
  • phishing: Lowercase.
  • ransomware: One word, lowercase.
  • two-factor authentication (2FA): Hyphenated. Use 2FA on second reference.

Conclusion: The Value of Precision in a Digital Age

Maintaining AP style consistency, especially with a term like Wi-Fi (always capitalized and hyphenated), is a mark of professional writing. The stylebook's continuous updates for terms like the lowercase internet, one-word email, and the nuanced guidance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) demonstrate a commitment to reflecting how language is actually used in the modern world. By adopting these 25+ essential technology terms—from smartphone to ecommerce—you ensure your content is not only accurate and credible but also perfectly aligned with the standards of the world's most respected journalistic organizations. In a content-saturated environment, this attention to detail is your most powerful tool for building authority and trust with your audience.

The Ultimate 2024 AP Style Guide: How to Write 'Wi-Fi' and 25+ Essential Tech Terms
ap style for wifi
ap style for wifi

Detail Author:

  • Name : Vernie Rutherford
  • Username : mikel27
  • Email : ltillman@schmitt.com
  • Birthdate : 1992-07-31
  • Address : 2899 Crooks Parkways Libbyberg, CT 11357-1814
  • Phone : +1 (303) 940-7883
  • Company : Muller-Runolfsdottir
  • Job : Agricultural Manager
  • Bio : Occaecati sed velit magni. Voluptas aspernatur neque sint et laudantium. Distinctio reprehenderit dolor laudantium possimus. In ullam soluta veritatis magni.

Socials

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/garfieldhessel
  • username : garfieldhessel
  • bio : Voluptates maxime sit dolor eos sed. Quis aspernatur vero eaque dicta possimus iure. Et sed reiciendis voluptatem aut at.
  • followers : 4731
  • following : 2221

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/garfield.hessel
  • username : garfield.hessel
  • bio : Adipisci enim ut consectetur. Voluptatum officia qui sint natus. Non est qui quia soluta ea.
  • followers : 1055
  • following : 110

linkedin:

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@garfield6532
  • username : garfield6532
  • bio : Et rerum repudiandae facilis harum. Velit illum ipsa et expedita consequatur.
  • followers : 5683
  • following : 1320

facebook:

  • url : https://facebook.com/garfield4361
  • username : garfield4361
  • bio : Ut ut id quis quia et. Laboriosam cupiditate sed sapiente non voluptatum.
  • followers : 5605
  • following : 166

Random Posts