WWWhere there's a wonk there's a way

You tell us what you think about our new WWW terminology

We ran a story yesterday we which hoped would solve the irritating need to repeat "double-u, double-u, double-u dot" every time you are talking about a Web site. Instead, we went for the word "wonk" and made the foolish mistake of asking you what you thought.

Well, about 300 emails later, it's an even split. Some loved it, some hated it and most gave alternatives. (There's no pleasing some people.) Anyways, we thought we'd post some of the suggestions that others (and other cultures) have come with to save this tongue-tying tautology.

What's wrong with "wonk"?
Sounds too much like "wank" (Eugene); rhymes with "donk" (George Girton); too close to "wonky" (meaning flakey or of sub-standard quality - John Kratochvil). Is just rubbish (many).

So what instead?

• 
  
• "vey vey vey" - said in Austrian accent (Stephen Rice)
  
• "triple-dub dot" - (Pat Reynolds and a number of others)
  
• "w-cube" - (Dafydd Owen - we believe he may be Welsh)
  
• "wubble-u" - (Ryan Fleming)
  
• "web dot" - (many people including Reuben Harris (first out the hat))
  
• "dub dub dub dot" - (Zippy and others)
  
• "wubba dot" - (David)
  
• "wibble" - (Simon Stewart)
  
• "trip-dub" - (shortened version of "triple-dub" (above) - James Healey)
  
• "dubya" - (Andrew Dalke)
  
• "we-three" - (Everett L.(Rett) Williams)
  
• "wawawa" - (Jeff Asselin)
  
• "sextuple u" or just "sex u" - (Marcus Coles)
  
• "wah wah wah" - (Conor)
  
• "wuhwuhwuhdot" - (Dick)
  
• "wubba wubba wubba" - (Ciaran Conliffe)
  

Or, simply, just don't bother with the "www." at all, only making a point when it isn't on the Web (many, many folk).

And there you have it. ®

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