The terms “hard drive” and “harddrive” are often used interchangeably, but there is some debate over whether they should be one word or two. This article will examine the origins of the term “hard drive”, look at how it is commonly used, and provide guidance on the correct or recommended usage.
The goal is to clarify the differences between “hard drive” and “harddrive” for anyone unsure about the proper spelling and usage. By evaluating the history, current trends, and best practices, we will aim to answer the question definitively – is it hard drive or harddrive?
Definition of a Hard Drive
A hard disk drive (HDD) is the hardware component that stores and retrieves digital information in a computer, laptop, or external storage device. It consists of rapidly rotating platters or disks coated with magnetic material where data gets recorded in the form of binary code. The main function of a hard drive is to store and provide fast access to data. This includes the operating system, applications, and personal files such as documents, pictures, videos, and music.
According to Crucial.com, “Hard disk drives have rigid platters that spin, allowing read/write heads access to different sections of the drive.” (Source) The hard drive allows the computer to store and access large amounts of data quickly from a mechanical device. It provides non-volatile storage, meaning the data remains even when the power is turned off.
Origins of the Term
The term “hard drive” has been used to refer to disk storage devices since the early days of computing. According to sources like the Wikipedia article on the history of hard disk drives, the first commercial hard disk drive was the IBM 350 disk storage unit introduced in 1956. This large unit contained fifty 24-inch platters and was referred to as a “hard drive” to distinguish it from floppy disks which were also emerging during that time period.
The term “hard drive” became more common during the late 1970s and early 1980s as personal computers like the Apple II and IBM PC were released with internal hard disk drives. These early hard drives were bulky external units before internal drives were developed. Throughout this era the term “hard drive” became the standard nomenclature used to refer to rigid disk storage devices for computers.
Prevalence of the Single Word Spelling
It is increasingly common to see the term “hard drive” written as one word – “harddrive”. According to a recent report from EaseUS, a data recovery software company, 71.97% of computer users have more than one hard drive (EaseUS Disk Drives Stats 2). With multiple hard drives in use, there are frequent opportunities to abbreviate “hard drive” to the single word spelling of “harddrive”. This report indicates that the prevalence of spelling it as one word could be quite high.
Additionally, in product listings and technical specifications, many manufacturers opt for the single word spelling of “harddrive”. For example, Seagate uses “harddrive” in the product name of its BarraCuda line (Seagate BarraCuda). Western Digital also uses the single word spelling in some product descriptions like for the WD Black P10 Game Drive (WD Black P10). The common use by major hard drive manufacturers further demonstrates the widespread adoption of the single word spelling.
Correct Usage
The majority of authoritative sources use the term as two separate words – “hard drive.” For example, tech sites like Crucial and reference sites like Wikipedia both use the two-word spelling “hard drive” in their definitions and explanations of the term. This indicates that the proper and accepted way to write it in formal or technical writing is as two words.
Some of the reasons for keeping it as two words include:
- It emphasizes that it is a drive that is physically hard – made of rigid platters as opposed to a floppy disk.
- It maintains consistency with related terms like solid state drive, flash drive, optical drive, which are also two words.
- It avoids confusion with terms like software, firmware, workload which are single words.
Therefore, authoritative sources and technical writing standards support using two words – “hard drive” – as the correct usage.
Reasons for Two Words
The main reason it is written as two words, “hard drive”, instead of one word, “harddrive”, is because the word “hard” functions as an adjective that modifies the noun “drive”. In English grammar, when an adjective comes before a noun to describe or modify it, you use two separate words instead of joining them together.
For example, you would say “red car” instead of “redcar”, or “large computer” instead of “largecomputer”. This is the standard grammatical structure in English.
The word “hard” describes a key characteristic of the drive, which is that it contains rigid non-movable platters as opposed to floppy, bendable disks. Since “hard” is an adjective, it requires a separation between the two words when paired with the noun “drive”.
All major style guides such as AP Stylebook, Chicago Manual of Style, and MLA Handbook specify two separate words for “hard drive” based on standard English grammar rules. Major publications and tech companies like Microsoft also use the two-word spelling.
Examples in Major Publications
Major publications tend to use the two word spelling “hard drive” rather than the single word “harddrive.” For example, a book published in 2021 titled “Building the Perfect PC” consistently uses the term “hard drive” throughout when referring to computer storage devices (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/building-the-perfect/9781098115776/).
Popular technology magazines like PCWorld and Wired also seem to prefer the two word version. A recent article in PCWorld had the headline “The best portable hard drives for 2022” (https://www.pcworld.com/article/560237/best-portable-hard-drives.html). And a Wired article from 2021 included the sentence “Mechanical hard drives with actual spinning magnetic platters are still around.” (https://www.wired.com/story/best-external-hard-drives-and-ssds/)
This two word spacing appears to be the standard in edited, published materials from major outlets and books. While “harddrive” may occasionally appear in informal contexts, professionally edited content overwhelmingly uses the term “hard drive.”
Search Engine Results
There is a clear difference between results for ‘hard drive’ and ‘harddrive’ when searching Google. A search for ‘hard drive’ pulls up 172 million results, versus only 12.8 million results for ‘harddrive’. The top results for ‘hard drive’ are Wikipedia, Seagate, Crucial, Western Digital, and Tech Terms, all established sources discussing computer components. The ‘harddrive’ results include lesser known brands and discussion forums. Overall, ‘hard drive’ produces more authoritative results relevant to computer components, while ‘harddrive’ yields fewer and less useful results.
This significant discrepancy in search results indicates that ‘hard drive’ is the dominant and preferred spelling. Major brands, retailers, and technology sites optimize content around the two word variation.
Recommended Usage
When it comes to using “hard drive” versus “harddrive,” the recommended approach is to go with the two word version – “hard drive” – particularly in technical writing and other formal publications. Here are some reasons why:
- The two word spelling is more widely accepted and considered standard English.
- “Hard drive” has been the dominant usage in technical documentation and major publications for decades.
- Using the formal term promotes consistency across technical writing and documentation.
- “Hard drive” reduces ambiguity compared to the single word spelling.
For technical manuals, instruction guides, computer hardware specifications, and other formal writing, “hard drive” is the safest choice. It aligns with established conventions and avoids confusion. While “harddrive” may occasionally be used in informal contexts, technical writers should opt for the two word version.
The bottom line is that “hard drive” is the most broadly accepted spelling in technical documentation. Using this standard form demonstrates attention to detail and promotes consistency.
Conclusion
In summary, while “harddrive” written as one word is sometimes used, the more standard and recommended spelling is “hard drive” with a space between the two words. This two-word version is prevalent in books, magazines, newspapers, and other professionally edited publications. It also tends to rank higher in search engine results. The origins of the term point to “hard drive” as the original phrasing. While language does evolve, and spellings can change over time, currently the consensus among publishing style guides favors “hard drive.” For clear communication and adherence to conventions, “hard drive” remains the preferred spelling.
