This special issue is a contribution to the study of linguistic online health practices. Its starting point is a research project entitled Language and Health Online , which was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation from 2012 to 2016 (SNF 100016-143286). Over the years, the scholars involved (Locher, Rudolf von Rohr, Thurnherr) built up a network of contacts and ultimately a symposium of the same name was held in 2016 to mark the end of the funding period of the project. The present collection emerged from discussions at this event and further soliciting of research. This introduction positions our joint research.