Why does the word Internet need to be capitalised?

Question

When I spell check a document containing the word "Internet", it will mark the word as incorrect unless I capitalise it. Why is this?

PS, the word "capitalise" is only spelled "capitalize" in America. I'm European. :)

Answer 1

The Internet is a specific place, like Japan, New York, Main Street or First National Bank. In English, specific places are capitalized.

Answer 2

The spellchecker is giving you the correct spelling for the most common usage. We are speaking English and, since the word Internet is usually used as a proper noun referring to the Internet, that is what the spellchecker came up with. If you were using the word as an adjective (e.g. internet protocols), capitalization would be incorrect.

Answer 3

Yahoo spellchecker is flawed. I have been asked to capatilize the word the.

It is an exceptionally good spell checker, but like most things, it has its flaws.

The word internet need only be capatilized if it is the beginning word in a sentence, as you and I know.

Good question,

Darryl S.

Answer 4

Because it's a proper noun. Proper nouns are always capitalized Eg. The United Nations, Room 308, the Bible, the Internet :)

Answer 5

I did google it. yet all the solutions have been very long winded and that i've got a quick interest span. only google "could information superhighway have a capital i". For the checklist, often times I placed a capital, often times no longer. quite often no longer. i don't be attentive to why I placed a capital often times, it is only whilst i think like it. i think of it seems extraordinary nonetheless. i would be occurring the internet this evening. i would be occurring the internet this evening.

Answer 6

Because the wordlist of the spell-checker you're using has it capitalised. It doesn't need to be, unless it's the first word in the sentence.

Answer 7

It is because it is considered to be a proper noun; it is naming a specific computer "program". Proper nouns are capitalized.

You say "when I spell check"..... but....you have misspelled the word "capitalize"! Spell check EVERYTHING, not just documents.

Answer 8

And god doesn't have to be capitalized. It's because we're entering a dystopian era where cyberpunk is reality.

Answer 9

heheh That's funny.
At least it isn't making you say "The Internet"....