The New Yorker Modernizes a Few Words in Its Style Guide

The New Yorker has made changes to its house style, updating some of its long-standing grammar and punctuation rules. The changes were prompted by Editor David Remnick, who suggested re-examining the magazine's style to see if any rules needed updating. A group of copy editors and editors met to discuss potential changes, and came up with a list of proposals. Some of the changes include updating "in-box" to "inbox", "Web site" to "website", and "cell phone" to "cellphone". However, some "quirky" styles, such as "teen-ager" and "per cent", will remain unchanged. The use of the diaeresis, as seen in "reëxamination", has overwhelming support and will continue to be used. The changes have been met with mixed reactions, with some seeing them as modern and overdue, while others lament the loss of traditional styles. One change in particular, lowercasing "Internet" to "internet", has sparked debate, with some arguing that it should be treated as a proper noun due to its uniqueness and significance. The writer of the article disagrees with the decision to lowercase "Internet", arguing that it is a distinct and remarkable achievement that deserves to be capitalized. Overall, the changes aim to modernize the magazine's style while still maintaining its unique voice and character.