Bar Code Bar-Code or Barcode?

OK, so barcodes are an important part of how things work these days and crucial to the existence as a business such as ours.

There is often a difference of opinion as to the correct spelling of the word for these interesting symbols.

If you’ve read my posts before, you’ll have noticed that I always spell the name as “barcode”. Others here at the WincoPlex tell me that it should be “bar code”.

The spell checker in Microsoft Office often wants to change my spelling to be “bar-code”!

So which is the correct way to document the name of this important item?

Merriam-Webster tells me this:

Definition of BAR CODE

a code consisting of a group of printed and variously patterned bars and spaces and sometimes numerals that is designed to be scanned and read into computer memory and that contains information (as identification) about the object it labels

Whereas the Oxford Dictionary has this information:

Definition of barcode

noun

a machine-readable code in the form of numbers and a pattern of parallel lines of varying widths, printed on and identifying a product. Also called Universal Product Code.

Working on the assumption that the Oxford Dictionary is clearly a better guide to English than Merriam-Webster (give me a break here, I am a British guy!), I feel that my “barcode” stance is totally vindicated – especially since the definitive source of all knowledge (Wikipedia) agrees!Having said that; M-W has by far the better definition – someone really needs to update the Oxford one.

Oh, as a barcode geek test, can you identify all the barcode symbologies I’ve used in my little graphic?

Final thought (and totally off topic) – how on earth can Google index my posts in four minutes? Amazing!