Commenter vs. Commentator

Commentator:

1. A person who discusses news, sports events, weather, or the like, as on television or radio.
2. A person who makes commentaries.

Commenter (form of comment):

(Def. 4) A user response to published content on the Internet, written in a designated comments section, often below the published content.

Folks, if you’re making comments on the Internet, you’re a commenter. If you’re the paid professional announcer, news anchor, host, essayist, unpaid amateur blogger or what have you, you’re a commentator. Comments, made by commenters, follow what is said by the commentator. If the commentator follows up by making a comment on his or her content, then he or she is a commenter in the comments on his or her own work, for which he or she is the commentator.

Got it?

Just another public service from the Grammar Nazi. And I’m not the only one who thinks so.