Universal Names 1

[sbudzynski]

From another thread -

Reynold's Wrap never earned universal name that Xerox, Kleenex, or Q-Tips did, at least not where I grew up.

So other then Xerox, Kleenex, and Q-tips. Can you think of any other universal names?

Chapstick
Coke (in some parts)

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Steve Budzynski


"So, pass another round around for the kids. Who have nothing left to lose and for those souls old and sold out by the soles of my shoes"

 

[Dagon]

Hoover for vacuum cleaner.

 

[Dagon]

Also, "google" for search (although they don't like it).

 

[CajunCenturion]

We have a couple of threads in the past about 'commonizations'.

You might try the search feature to find those threads.



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[Lunatic]

Aspirin® (

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspirin)

definately falls into that category I believe

Tubberware? Seems to include much more than just tubberware.

***

Part of the problem identifying them is they are so common people sometimes don't know what the category actually is.

I was 22 or 23 before I found out that Kleenex and Q-Tips are NOT general terms but refer to a specific brand.

***

A couple that are close might be PalmPilot and Blackberry both come close but don't quite make it and I doubt they stand the test of time.

***
What about regional versions?

I've heard differing reports on whether not 'Coke' is the word used for Soda-pop (My college debate coach reported this conversation after a debate tournament in the American South... "Would you like a Coke?", "Yes, thank you!", "What kind?")

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Some of these are quite interesting. I didn't know that aspirin was a commonization until it was pointed out in one of the earlier threads. Here is one of those earlier threads: thread1256-998244.

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[sha76]

Don't be so sure on these being universal, many are specific to country:

Xerox - do you mean photocopy? Xerox is just a brand to me.
Q-tips - cotton buds, don't even think Q-tips are available in the UK
Kleenex - I have heard this used over here, but I'd say you're at least equally likely to hear tissue.

Hoover & google I'd agree with.



"Your rock is eroding wrong." -Dogbert

 

[KenCunningham]

I love Lunatic's 'Tubberware'. So much more descriptive!

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[columb]

There is a significant legal point in amoungst all this. US trademark law (IANAL and I'm a Brit) has somethig about when a trade name becomes a common word the original company loses control. Google are currently fighting the use of 'google' as a common word for making an internet search. They would jump heavily on 'I googled that on MSN' for example. This was covered in a recent Slashdot post. I believe that the original makers of the Mexican Returning Top, Yoyo, lost this so that anyone, not just the YoYo corp, anc make a YoYo.

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Columb Healy

 

[mjldba]

velcro

"&@&^*!% golf ball, &@&^*!% game

 

[Lunatic]

Duct Tape


And I'll agree that very little is likely to be universal, most everything will be regionally or nationally universal at most.

Hoover is just another brand of vacuum cleaner ;p

 

[columb]

Biro is quite a biggie. I had to think for a minute or two before I remembered what it actually was! I'm sure that Parker or Waterman might complain though.

Lunatic, isn't Duct tape the tape you use for holding ducts together? It's carpet tape over here in the UK because you use it to hold carpets together. Oh, and I hoover the floor with my Dyson.

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Columb Healy

 

[Sympology]

How about Coke...

Always leads to the "Pepsi Ok?"


Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[Gooser]

What about Saran Wrap? Do people use this term?

Dumpster - Dumpster prefers "Dumpster brand refuse containers"

Legos - Lego prefers "Lego Brand Building Blocks"

--Gooser

 

[Dagon]

Of course, there are all sorts of words that are derived from the names of historical figures - like "revere" (Paul Revere) and "boycott" (Charles Boycott).

 

[Gooser]

Linoleum, Band-Aid, JetSki (or SeaDoo), Frisbee, Photoshop(ped), Jello, ...

 

[Gooser]

Styrofoam ...

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Sorry,

"revere" (Paul Revere)

Is not correct..revere has been used for centuries:
see:

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/reverence

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[jebenson]

Post-It notes.

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Arrrr, mateys! Ye needs ta be preparin' yerselves fer Talk Like a Pirate Day! Ye has a choice: talk like a pira

 

[Lunatic]

Wow, I was wrong, Duct Tape is a general name, not a specific brand (I thought for sure 3M owned the name in the US and everyone else had to use a slightly different name).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_tape

http://www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/

Apparently it was developed in WWII to keep ammo boxes dry during water activities.