Even in the digital age, there is still some confusion about the correct way to refer to wifi: is it “wi-fi” or “wi-fi”? To answer this question, we must first understand where the controversy comes from.
Confusion around the word “Wifi”
Confusion over the correct way to refer to wifi comes from two separate sources. Firstly, there are those who think that it should be written “wifi” because it is a shortened version of “Wireless Fidelity”. Secondly, there are those who argue that the correct form should be written “wi-fi”. ” because it follows the same naming conventions as other acronyms such as NASA and NATO.
The or The: Our response
So what is the correct form? According to most authorities on grammar and language usage, including the Oxford English Dictionary and the Chicago Manual of Style, both forms are acceptable. However, they also agree that when talking about wifi in writing, the preferred form is “the wi-fi”. This is because when an acronym is pronounced as one word rather than as a series of individual letters (like NASA or NATO), it should always be written with a hyphen between each letter. In this case, “wi-fi” should always be hyphenated, unless used in direct quotes or titles.
Conclusion & Opinion
There it’s done ! Although both forms – “the wifi” and “the wi-fi” – are technically accepted by most authorities on grammar and language usage, the preferred form would be “the wi-fi” due to of its adherence to standard naming conventions for acronyms. So the next time you find yourself debating what to call that magical wireless connection we love so much, remember: it’s not just any wifi, it’s THE wifi!
