I have seen it both ways on the internet--both from professionals and non-professional; is there an official "correct" what to say Web Design? I think the space is probably proper as "web design" is short for "web site design", but has the term become so popular that "webdesign" has sneaked its way into being "proper"?

As web designers and developers do you feel safest (for branding, search engine submission, communication, etc...) using Webdesign or Web Design (or even Web Site Design)? I noticed on Overture that "webdesign" returns "web design". "Web design" outpaces "web site design" 480k to 380k.

I look forward to everyones thoughts!

The way I see it is, "webdesign" came from URLs. Like webdesign.com or freewebdesign.com (don't know if they're real sites) but the correct way would be "web design". "Web site design" would be wrong in my oppinion. Web design could be designing graphics for a site, or just a single page, not necessarily a full website (website or web site?)

Some logic there mouldy.

I will consider that web site design is wrong. because web design is larger and involves more than site design.

Web Design looks like more accurate.

Web Design or Web Site Design.

Both work. Web Design does not mean "web site design" but a lot more. Someone who designs animated GIFs only, is also a web designer.

Web Site Design is more accurate if you want to refer to the design of a web site, as the name suggests.

Maybe "Web Development" should be an option? Because, when you think about, you are "developing" the web by adding more sites to it ;)

Originally posted by will7
Maybe "Web Development" should be an option? Because, when you think about, you are "developing" the web by adding more sites to it ;)

Web Development would be more for programming. You do not develop the web by adding more web design into it.

I'd say that adding more sites to the Internet would be developing it. Because you are adding more things to it which is developing it into a more useful resource.

act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=define%3A+development&meta=

Originally posted by AF
Web Development would be more for programming.

Yes, Web Development would be more for programming. I personally prefer to use Web Design over Web Site Design. My company advertises our service as Web Design and Development.

I still stand by that web development is a broad term that incorporates everything to do with improving and expanding the web, whether that be site design or programming.

Keep in mind "Web" is always capitalized when referring to the World Wide Web. It is a formal name, just like Internet.

Originally posted by the_pm
Keep in mind "Web" is always capitalized when referring to the World Wide Web. It is a formal name, just like Internet.

Good point the_pm!

So, in a ficticious statement it would be:

"John's Web design was very good".

I wonder if it is flaky to refer to, "Web Designers" instead of "Web designers". Any thoughts on that the_pm?

Your fictitious statement is properly formed :)

"Web Designer" is proper if you're referring to an official title, like:

Paul Hirsch, Web Designer (I prefer Web Developer myself)

Otherwise, the D is lowercase: Paul Hirsch is our Web designer.

Web Design is the appropriate term.

Website is one word not two.

Web Development is about developing websites not the Web Community.

A Web Developer is short for Website Developer. If you are attempting to refer to a Web Developer as someone who builds the Internet community, adds functionality, inter-connectivity, or Usability, or something, I would advise you to use another term. The Web you are referring to is really the "Web Community" or "Internet Community." You might think of yourself as a Web Community Development Specialist" perhaps.

Paul, just to be the devil's advocate, wouldn't you capitalize the D since it's a title?

No Dan, not in my example. If I was a carpenter and you were talking about me, you'd say "This is my carpenter, Paul," and carpenter would not be capitalized, since it's not being associated with my name as part of my title. Another example:

"Docter Paul Hirsch" would all be capitalized as a complete title/name, whereas "I'm going to see my doctor, Paul Hirsch," would not be.

Surferdude, for what it's worth, "Website" is acceptable in business writing, and is not acceptable by Associated Press standards. "Web site" as two separate words is accepted in all forms. So it's safer to go with the two separated when writing general documents, especially if they're going to make it into any sort of press publication. That being said, sometimes I make them one word too. Depends on my mood :)

Ah, good call Paul [no rhyme intended :P].

Not familiar with what authority Associated Press has to define Internet terminology?

Originally posted by SurferDude
Not familiar with what authority Associated Press has to define Internet terminology? The Associated Press Style Guide defines proper language use for all media publications; it is the media writer's bible. Internet is loosely covered under this guise, but it doesn't really matter that Internet is a media type. More than anything, the AP dictates proper use of all types of language in areas such as press releases, news stories, long-form articles, broadcast scripts, etc. So, when referring to a Web site in any of these media, it is proper to separate "Web" and "site."

In business writing, either form is considered proper, separate or joined into one word. My only point is that you'll be universally correct keeping them separate, and there will be times when used as one word that this usage is not considered correct. Here are a couple links to relevant excerpts from the AP Guide:

http://www.ccri.edu/publicrelations/style_guide.shtml#W
http://www.sfsu.edu/~puboff/style.htm#web

To be fair to your point, Surferdude, here's another article showing how this question is very much up for debate in general writing circles. They mention "Web site is definitely the safest best, grammatically speaking," but concede lowercase "web" is finding it's way into standardized language: http://www.translationdirectory.com/article146.htm

Further, http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/usage/website?view=uk has some recommendations for proper use with indicate they prefer "website," and the word website is in the dictionary (it is a word, it's just not acceptable for use by all authorities, whereas "Web site" is).

Thanks for the links. They cover the issue well. Since I am a private tutor, my high school students may take an interest in this.