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On the brink.

From billions of searches emerged a fascinating portrait of a culture on the brink — of environmental changes, political breakaways, celebrity breakdowns, and technological breakthroughs. Join us as we explore the top trends in 2007.

WHAT'S BUZZING NOW...

Slip of the Key

By Vera H-C Chan

Thu, January 03, 2008, 9:00 am PST

One day, acronyms and initialisms may rule the written word. Until then, use spellcheck (although not excessively).

When you enter a term in a search box, search engines are generally happy to suggest what you're really seeking, with a genteel "Did you mean..." or going straight to "We have included [properly spelled] results."

Could these well-intentioned corrections be molly-coddling a generation too quick on the keystrokes? According to a round-up of top misspelled words of 2007, these kindly edits don't seem to be sinking in. For instance, the number one misspelling, "mysapce," has risen 36%, while aggregate searches for "myspace" has only risen 34%. (If you think anyone is going to respect your need for "sapce," think again.)

Some misspellings have subconscious overtones. Given that trains do run on rails, "Amtrack" does make more sense. "Recipies" is an understandable slip if one wants the low-down on a lemon meringue. Names of famous personalities are frequently in error, which really undermines one's sincerity as a fan. If you can't spell Rachael Ray, do you deserve her tips of 30-minute meals?

Arguable, the most worrisome misspelling on the list is "tatoo." Artists may be notorious for their inattention to detail, but ending up with a permanent flesh marker that reads "I (heart) Mon" won't make you happy... although your boss might think you a trouper for embracing the start of the work week.

Study this 2007 list of top misspelled words (hyperlinked to its proper spelling), and promise to do better next year.

Buzz Odometer

By Vera H-C Chan

Sat, December 29, 2007, 12:00 pm PST

Toyota may have received a few dings this year in its reliability or European car sales, but the top-searched auto maker can take the hit.

The not so great news is that searches for "toyota" slowed down about 14% in 2007. Meanwhile, searches for "honda" also lagged in online look-ups (-12%), but at a slower rate. Good news for Ford and Nissan—about the same number of people researched their product name compared to 2006.

Automakers and economists have blamed gas prices, among other things, for a sales drop-off. Certainly among many environmental concerns, consumers this year monitored oil and gas prices more intensely, and the recent legislation on stricter fuel economy standards should be good news for them.

In the tally of manufacturers, makes, and models, here is how the Buzz mileage varied, according to 2007 searches.

Top 5 Searched Auto Manufacturers in 2007

The above list might be a tad misleading, as "GM" is not as common a search term as its divisions.

Top 10 Searched Auto Divisions in 2007

Among the models, Honda Civic still remains the buzz front-runner, with pony car Chevrolet Camaro in second place.

Top 10 Searched Car Models in 2007

The Year's Most Significant Others

By Vera H-C Chan

Wed, December 26, 2007, 9:39 pm PST

Do you wish your significant other was searched like... Ye Li?

Whether a partner, spouse, or a fleeting beau, the consort of a well-known personality invites curiosity. Long-time galpal Li received top Search honors when she wed Houston Rockets center Yao Ming in August—likely because, besides being an established basketball player in her own right, who could measure up to the NBA's tallest player and arguably its most famous export from China?

True, occasionally online attention may be proportionate to a partner's fetching appearance, such as the horrifically statuesque proportions of eighth-ranked Nicole "Coco" Austin (aka Mrs. Ice-T). Elin Nordegren (No. 9), as a former model, nanny, and wife of a likeable (and powerfully rich) athlete, piqued many Search trigger points. Becoming a mom also pushed her Buzz this year. Jessica Seinfeld's new book earned attention, then infamy after accusations of plagiarism.

Las Vegas fixture Wayne Newton provoked much Search speculation about his age, and a glimpse of his wife Kathleen McCrone spurred her relationship (rather than her name) to the No. 2 spot. Other couples similarly commanded attention due to a notable age discrepancies: The political contests this year yielded the not-so-behind-the-scenes spouses Jerri Thompson (Fred Thompson's wife and shadow "campaign manager") and Elizabeth Kucinich.

The connection between how presidential candidates treat those closest to them and their leadership competency has been debated (sometimes by a candidate himself), but bedfellows do make buzz. Bill Clinton certainly draws buzz on his own, but his 2007 role has primarily been that of a runner's mate.

Not all romances run smoothly, as the acrid divorce proceedings between Joumana and Jason Kidd proved this year. Searchers may have been of two minds about third-place Camilla Parker Bowles, who regained global attention with the 10th anniversary death of Princess Diana—was Bowles a homely home wrecker or an example of true requited love?

But the Buzz is ultimately a sentimental beast, preferring to hear of a happy union for a First Daughter (well, actually, a second twin) or budding romances with up-and-coming actresses.

Whatever their claim to fame, here's to the (mostly) better halves of 2007.

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METHODOLOGY

To come up with the Top Trends of 2007, we analyze search queries based on a number of factors, including absolute volume and growth versus previous periods, to see which themes and trends bubble to the surface. And of course, individual users and their searches remain anonymous.

Images sourced from AP, Reuters, AFP and Yahoo! News