John Dowdell applauds Russ Weakley for attempting to define the term “web standards”. Russ says that “a site built to web standards should ideally be lean, clean, CSS-based, accessible, usable and search engine friendly.”

I would like to point to a previous definition of web standards, one which I think is both accurate and concise. I refer of course to the Devil’s Dictionary, which states that the term “web standards” refers to “A large stick or cudgel, used by the slightly more anal-retentive to beat the slightly less anal-retentive.”

Works for me.

P.S. I also think that Russ’s definition is spot on. Maybe some kind of merger between the two is required.

P.P.S. I also think that Russ’s checklist is pure gold. I will be merging some of those points in with my own QA cudgel list.