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Triple-U
We really need a simpler verbal phrase than "Double-U Double-U Double-U"!
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When the "World Wide Web" was invented, no doubt by geeky technicians, they probably thought it was a cute idea to
use the acronym "www" for world wide web sites. It's a pity they didn't think of the verbal implications of that
set of three letters!
Today, whenever a web site address is being discussed, we are burdened with having to enunciate the tedious
"Double-U Double-U Double-U" prefix before getting to the core of the address.
Sure, some people drop the prefix altogether and just use the rest of the domain name, such as "fieggen.com". In
fact, some web browsers allow you to enter just the primary part of a domain name (eg. "fieggen") without needing
the prefix ("www.") or even the suffix (".com").
But really, wouldn't it be nice to have something that's easier to get your tongue around than "Double-U Double-U
Double-U"?
My suggestion is:
Triple-U
For example, instead of saying -
"Go to Double-U Double-U Double-U dot Fieggen dot Com"
- we'd instead say -
"Go to Triple-U dot Fieggen dot Com"
Okay, I know that technically it's incorrect. Three consecutive "Doubles" add up to a "Triple-Double-U",
or a "Double-U Cubed", or even a "Hextuple-U". But all of these defeat the purpose, as they are hardly any easier
to verbalise than the original.
By using something that is not currently part of common English usage, and by saying to everyone "Okay, let's adopt
this", it can work. As people recognise the benefits and start to use it, we'll have a new, easier phrase.
I've already started using "Triple-U", though with accompanying explanations. If at the very least it's taken up by
newsreaders, it will have been worth it!
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Comments
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Hasn't anyone noticed that the character is actually a "double-v"? To reduce further the number of syllables and
eliminate the miscount, I advocate "Six-V". Alternatives for the Wiccan-minded are "Hex-V" and for the romantic,
"Sex-V".
- John R, 11-Feb-2009
True, they're both concise and accurate. Personally, I feel that one of the big advantages of "Triple-U" is that
it's similar enough to the original "Double-U" that it actually
sounds familiar, which will undoubtedly help.
- Ian, 11-Feb-2009
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Did you also realize that the w is the only letter of the alphabet that is not a one syllable word?
- Jean W, 18-Aug-2009
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This page last updated: 12-Jul-2011. Copyright © 2007-2011 by
Ian W. Fieggen. All rights reserved.
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