Suzie S. answered • 04/11/19
College Communications Professor: Learn to Organize and Write Right
Great question!
Wireless technology is constantly changing, and, as such, the standards are changing. The letters you refer to represent the standard the router is based on. "G" was most common and now "N" is coming up.
If you google and look at how various companies in the business spell these networks, you will see a difference between the top dogs. What does this mean? It means that a standard for the spelling has not been accepted yet (remember electronic mail being E-mail, e-mail, E Mail, etc.?). Many companies have their own style guides and make their own rules for situations like this.
So what does this mean for you? Follow what your boss does.
As a former technical writing manager for a major communications company, I would have recommended "a wireless G network" - capitalizing G to indicate the title of the network. I don't see a need for the hyphen.
Keep your eyes on the big guns for this issue to eventually be settled.
