Spare Change

Google is not a Verb

Posted by Bryan

Editorially speaking, that is. From the inbox:

A trademark includes any word, phrase, symbol, design, sound, smell, color, product configuration, group of letters or numbers that is used by a person or company to identify and distinguish its products or services from those provided by others. An author frequently wants to refer to trademarks, such as brand names, in their writings to make them more realistic.

When possible in writing, refer to the generic term and not the trademark name. For instance:

Tissue instead of Kleenex
Table tennis balls instead of Ping-Pong balls
Soft drink instead of Coke
Air-filled plastic packaging material instead of Bubble Wrap
Slow cooker instead of Crock-Pot
Gelatin dessert instead of Jell-O

This excellent Web site lists trademark names.

This one lists alternate descriptives for trademark names.