You heard that right. The center of the universe, the Internet, is no more. Sort of.

According to the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, considered the pinnacle of journalistic rules to many, the Internet doesn’t exist anymore. It’s been replaced by the internet.

What’s the difference?
Well, the global computer network we have come to depend on daily since about, say 1996, began its life as the Internet — as in, “the one and only global network with standardized communication protocols,” not to be confused with other smaller computer networks. This made the Internet worthy of proper noun status and hence the initial cap.

Now, however, English style has finally caught up with reality — the Internet is really no different than an internet and so really doesn’t deserve an initial cap. The same is true for the Web, which will now be the web. Some writers and linguists have seen this change coming for a while, but for many, remembering not to capitalize these decommissioned proper nouns will be almost as frazzling as the internet actually disappearing. Almost.

And these are just two of over 240 new and modified entries in the 2016 edition of the AP Stylebook. Some changes are small, such as voicemail becoming one word, or no longer needing to first refer to a BLT as bacon, lettuce and tomato (although, anything concerning bacon is of the highest importance to me).

But… why?
The editors of AP Stylebook scour the internet (ha!) and other forms of written communication throughout the year to find new language tendencies. When an incorrect word, phrase, or writing style starts to pop up as a regular part of the English language, the editors take note. As the old adage goes, if you say something enough, it becomes true.

And here’s another old adage: don’t shoot the messenger. The AP Stylebook doesn’t dictate usage — it reflects it. So if you’re angry and want to debate Internet vs. internet, don’t accost AP editors. Instead, maybe you should look around to your friends and neighbors, who helped contribute to the evolving nature of our language. Or better yet, save yourself for fights that really matter, such as those involving the use of the Oxford comma.

Honorable Mentions
The internet style update is just one of 240+ changes in the 2016 AP Stylebook. Here are a few that you might find interesting:

• “Chickpea” is preferable over Garbanzo bean
• “Cross-dresser” should be used in place of transvestite
• Use “said” instead of “claimed” when attributing quotes because the latter implies doubt (unless there really is doubt)
• Use “victim” over “alleged victim” because the latter implies doubt
• “Dashcam” is one word
• “Normcore,” a combo of normal and hardcore, is a new word
• Use “ride booking” or “ride hailing” over “ride sharing” when referring to using Uber, Lyft or the like, because ride-sharing makes it seem free
• The plural of emoji, emojis, is officially a word
• There is a new entry for “kombucha” (a fermented tea drink)
• Do not use “spree” to refer to a killing spree; reserve for shopping spree, revelry, etc.