>Usage:
Nowadays, in casual conversation, almost everybody uses "google"
in the lower case sense, as a completely generic verb synonymous with
"search the internet" by using any search engines of your choosing.
Whether these "google it" searches actually include Google, Yahoo,
metasearch engines, or whatever, nobody but the company Google is
opposed to the common usage of this phrase, which simply means to
search the internet for something . . . "google it!" It is a catchy
phrase.
It's easier to say "google it," than it is to say "search the
internet" for this or that. Three compact syllables instead of five.
It's easier to say, and it sounds better. And it is understood that
it doesn't mean "you have to use our exclusive Google search engine,"
in order to "google" for something.
I would say the company Google is fighting a losing battle on this
front. It is more like they have already lost this battle, and are
just having trouble coming to terms with their loss.
