I have a question from a technical writer. Is it "Y2k" or "Y2K"?

-- Anonymous, April 29, 1998

Answers

The following is a repeat of a post that was made to the misc.industry.utilities.electric Usenet forum some time ago. Ever since I read this, I've kind of been stuck on Y2k (lower case k) myself:

>Y2K or Y2k?

>A small point, but let's get the title right.

>Y2k is the year 2000. That's when the problem is really going to hit.

>Y2K means 2048, and that's 50 years away. If they haven't fixed the bugs by then .....

>K = 1024 [= 2^10] was chosen in the late 70's as a simple way of stating the size of memories. Like many other things, >it seemed a good idea at the time. It wasn't.

> amfowler@melbpc.org.au

Now, I don't know if I necessarily completely agree ("K" being an accepted metric unit abbreviation for 1000), but in strictly computer terms, it made sense.

All in all, it rather seems like the question, "Should the toilet paper be positioned over or under the roll?" :-)

-- Anonymous, April 29, 1998

I agree with Rick on this, its "Y2k" k=kilo etc.

But if we're going to get into the nitty gritty, it should be "Year 2000", after all the system of shortening everything is what got us all in this mess in the first place isn't it.

Oh. . . and while were at it, it isn't the "Millennium" either, that starts in 2001.

My 2 cents worth.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 1998