Should I start with XHTML or HTML?

[C. Ankerstjerne]

Correct. If a website is displayed in any version of Internet Explorer, it is not XHTML.

[cyjetsu]

Even microsoft websites serve an xhtml dtd. It seems everyone does. So everyone is making the mistake of serving "invalid html" as a standard?

I can see that if I was to start using an html doctype, people would think I was an idiot and non-standard for not using an xhtml doctype.

I am not sure what to do now.

[computerbarry]

I feel the pain cyjetsu. very confusing.

[AutisticCuckoo]

I recommend using HTML 4.01 Strict, unless you really need to use XML. Remember that serving XHTML with the correct MIME type means it won't work at all in Internet Explorer (including the upcoming IE8).

[cyjetsu]

Ok I shall use html strict.4 dtd. But I can tell you people are going to laugh at me when I try and convince them that their xhtml dtds are wrong.

[r937]

But I can tell you people are going to laugh at me when I try and convince them that their xhtml dtds are wrong.

not if you give them the url to this thread, or to the FAQ

[cyjetsu]

Thanks. I just noticed the sticky thread regarding this subject... I did not see it before. I will read it all now. Hopefully I am not the only one who thinks its all weird about xhtml dtd overused.

[r937]

Thanks. I just noticed the sticky thread regarding this subject... I did not see it before. I will read it all now.

it was also linked in post #7 in this thread, which is why i asked you earlier if you had read the entire thread

[cyjetsu]

I didn't read it all. I have been too lazy or busy in the past to read threads fully, usually just scan a couple of posts. But I have found sitepoint forums especially helpful recently so I am going to start examining threads a lot more thoroughly.