Internet Capitalization
Modern house styles commonly lowercase “internet.” Microsoft’s current style guide explicitly says not to capitalize it. Capitalization can still differ in quotations, proper names, legacy material, or a publication that intentionally follows another style.
Microsoft style writes “internet” lowercase. Follow the required house style, and preserve capitalization when it is part of a quoted or proper name.
Key details
Important caveats
Boundary
Do not silently alter capitalization inside a proper name, branded term, or faithful quotation.
Further guidance
Current Style
Microsoft explicitly instructs writers to use “internet” lowercase.
Practical Application
Use lowercase “internet” when following Microsoft’s current style or another house style that specifies lowercase. Preserve capitalization in proper names, branded terms, quotations, or a publication whose governing style explicitly requires something else.
Reader Check
Are you applying a house-style rule to the common noun, or reproducing text whose capitalization should remain unchanged?
Worked Example
A Microsoft-style sentence would read “Connect the device to the internet.” A quoted organization name containing “Internet” should retain the organization’s official capitalization.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- internet, intranet, extranet — Microsoft Style Guide (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Microsoft house style lowercases internet, intranet, and extranet