Grammar: “Internet” vs “internet”

What’s the difference between “Internet” with an uppercase “I” and “internet” with a lowercase “i”? Are you using the two words correctly?

The proper noun “Internet” refers to the massive, global network of computer networks that most of us use every day and that includes such things as Google and your cell phone network. Whereas, the common noun “internet” refers to any network of networks generally—an “internetwork” to be exact. An internetwork exists anytime you take two or more networks and connect them so that machines on one network can communicate with machines on other networks. If that internet happens to be the global internet we all use and love, then it’s the Internet.

So, as a general rule, you should say “Internet,” not “internet,” because more likely than not you’re referring to the global internetwork we all share. Other internets are the stuff of researchers and hobbyists.

Now you know.