Writing Gone Rogue: 7 Rules to Break on the Web

Loosen up, grammar purists -- these style suggestions will make your Web copy rule

By Kristen Fischer - May 24, 2010

As media professionals, we have come a long way since the days of scribbling in black-and-white composition books and fretting over dangling participles. Now, we write for the Internet -- a medium where things are constantly changing and it can be hard to keep up.

For example, The Associated Press stalled for years to change its guidelines on the word "website" from "Web site" while the rest of the industry insisted it was one word but couldn't get confirmation from one of the leading authorities on writing style. The media giant finally caved to popular opinion in mid-April, which sent shockwaves, and relief, through the editorial arena.

But there are a slew of old-school conventions, like "don't split an infinitive" and "always write in complete sentences," that are customarily set aside when writing for the Web -- and when they are, the content gets even better....