IF YOU’RE A fan of GIFs (and who isn’t) then you’ll know that they make the internet a better place.
They make a quick point and are always good for a laugh and have been a staple of the internet since their inception in 1987 (!).
Last night, GIF creator Steve Wilhite accepted a lifetime achivement award at The Webby Awards to honour his work inventing the file format.
Wilhite also pointed out how we’ve been saying GIF in real life is all wrong.
Most of us say it as GIF with a hard g (like garden or gate) but Wilhite insists that it’s pronounced JIF.
Noting that The Oxford English Dictionary says both pronunciations are acceptable he points out:
They are wrong. It is a soft ‘G,’ pronounced ‘jif.’ End of story.
Given that the word “JIF” gives us flashbacks to this:
via ICT Cool
We have been left reeling by this news.
Do Not Eat The Yellow Snow / Tumblr
We’re not sure if we’ll ever call them by their supposed correct name but we will always love GIFs.
To celebrate the achievement of their founder here are some of our favourite ones ever.
1. The dancing dog with arms
Dan-O-Vision / Tumblr
2. The “Yeah sure cool no prob-OHMYGODWHATJUSTHAPPENED” from Jennifer Lawrence
via E! Online
3. The truly shocked cat
via Twisted Sifter
4. The sea of adorable puppies
A Mess of a Dreamer / Tumblr
5. This Star Wars pug
Purple Lightsaber / Tumblr
6. This other Star Wars pug
via Buzzfeed
7. This Oprah spoof
via Gif Garage
8. This rather good Friends one
via GifBuffet
9. The excited Kermit
My Gif Dump / Tumblr
10. Jean Claude Van Damme Dancing
via Twisted Sifter
11. Obama as Beyoncé
via Buzzfeed
12. This thoroughly excited child
via Gif Central
13. This doggy encounter
via PBH2
14. The ultimate pug GIF
Blair Bear Booger/ Tumblr
Long live the GIF! (Whatever way you pronounce it)
