eLearning, E-learning, E-Learning or e-Learning?

My friend who is a grammar stickler explained to me that with new hyphenated words (like e-learning), as the word becomes more commonplace and well-known/used, the hyphen is eventually dropped.

Examples: web-site has become website, e-mail has become email.

This means that "e-learning" will likely one day be recognized in the dictionary as "elearning" and the latter spelling might even become more common

Random fact!! =)

• http://blog.referralcandy.com/2013/10/22/ecommerce-hyphen/
• http://www.onlinegrammar.com.au/hyphens-and-their-usage/

PS Even Jay-Z dropped his hyphen - he's now Jay Z! Haha :) (Jay-Z to become Jay Z in massively disrespectful move against hyphens)

Ask yourself, do you write "email" or "e-mail"? Then do the same with "e(-)learning". Consistency is key to happiness

LOL That could very well be the case, Rutwin.

I agree with Jeff - no correct, or incorrect syntax here. as long as you stick with one.

Nevertheless, out of pure curiosity I searched for both terms and got the following (perhaps quite useless) info: 

• Google gives about 12,200,000 results for "elearning", and about 17,300,000 results for "e-learning". This would indicate that "e-learning" is more common than "eLearning" - unless the extra 5 million references were all coming from online discussions about the frequent misuse of "E-learning"
  

• In Wikipedia's entry on "E-learning", the syntax "E-learning" is used 97 times, whereas "elearning" only 10. 

• It seems that offline publications about electronic/online learning prefer "elearning", whereas online articles more frequently use "E-learning".

In my personal experience, it depends on the organization/company. I agree with Jeff that the most important thing is just to pick one and be consistent with it! =)

I guess Oxford dictionary is the one to follow?

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/e-learning?q=elearning

So: e-learning.

Kind regards,

Christophe

Hi Jeff, I'd say it doesn't matter really as long as YOU use it consistently in anything you write. Like Garry states: in the end it's all about learning. 

Hi Jeff,

We always use "eLearning"

The rationale goes like this:  small 'e' denotes electronic  (etc: web/online, basically not paper based).  

The other 8 letters should be what we are all trying to achieve "Learning"

Hence the approach to eLearning (the term is long in the tooth now) is mainly about Learning, 8 letters to 1.  The "e" about the delivery technology... which of course will always change...

PS:

I previously worked in educational institute that spent many hours debating the most suitable syntax of the word eLearning, E-learning or e-Learning....only educational facility would waste meetings on such a benign topic. 

PPS:

As the internet was starting up (yes that old)  - I also worked for a manager (same institution) who had monthly meetings for a year to the determine if the Internet was going to be a worthwhile education tool...........<rolling eyes>

Anyway, hope it helps

Cheers

Garry