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)

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