Agonizing Decision for Writers: Poll

[Pure]

Is it 'duct tape' or 'duck tape.'

That heavy, very sticky, durable cloth tape, often gray or silvery.

Keep in mind that "Duck Tape" is a brand of 'duct tape', and there is an historical controversy over priority,

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

 

[Belegon]

Duct Tape...

I honestly think of the brand that actually has a duck on the label first if I try to picture it in a store though....

 

[impressive]

It's Duck brand of duct tape.


http://www.ducttapefashion.com

 

[impressive]

http://www.ducktapeclub.com/contests/prom/rules.asp

HOW TO ENTER. Contest participants must enter as a couple (two individuals) (“Entrant” or “Entrant Couple”). Each couple must attend a high school, or home school association, prom held in the spring of 2006, wearing complete attire or accessories made from duct tape (“Duct Tape Prom Attire”). Each couple must submit (1) one color photograph (professional or amateur) of the couple together in Duct Tape Prom Attire; (2) each individual’s full name, address, telephone number, e-mail address (if applicable) age/grade level, and the name of the closest major city to the individual’s hometown; (3) Liability and Publicity Release and Consent signed by each individual and, if any Entrant is a minor, that individual’s parent or guardian (“Release”); and (4) the name, address, and telephone number of the high school, or home school association, which is hosting the prom, and the date the prom was held (collectively “Contest Entry” or “Contest Entries” as applicable herein). Entrant Couples wishing to be considered for a Best In Class Category Award must designate their Entry within one of the TEN entry categories as further set forth in these Official Rules. Incomplete submissions or submissions sent outside the Contest Entry Period will not be considered. Contest Entries, including photographs, become the sole property of Sponsor and will not be returned. By submitting Contest Entries, Entrants agree that Contest Entries may be displayed at the Duck Tape Club website, located at www.ducktapeclub.com as provided in these Official Rules. Submissions may be sent via U.S. Mail to:

“Stuck at Prom” Contest
Henkel Consumer Adhesives, Inc.
32150 Just Imagine Dr.
Avon, OH 44011-1355

Contest Entries may be electronically submitted by submitting an email containing the required information, a verifiable Release and photograph to prom@ducktapeclub.com.

 

[Harry Leg]

Duct tape is excellent for everything you can imagine except ducts.

 

[oggbashan]

Trade Names

Duck tape is rare in the UK.

There are various versions of Duct Tape, sold be different manufacturers, so while Duct Tape would be understood, Duck Tape wouldn't be.

Trade Names don't travel well. We know what you mean by WalMart, but we go to Asda, owned by WalMart.

We assume that Heinz Baked Beans are a US product. They may be, but they are universal in the UK and odd in the US.

There is also a difficulty with using trade names in stories for Lit. The trade name is owned and the owner could object to that name being associated with an erotic story. In theory, they could sue you. A generic product like Duct Tape doesn't offend anyone.

Og

 

[Pure]

It is a tape made from a heavy cloth, no?

There is a nice survey of the controversy at the British website of Michael Quinion:

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-duc4.htm

Michael Quinion is a word expert and writer

from his site:

He also wrote a third of the entries for the second edition of the Oxford Dictionary of New Words and for a while compiled a weekly New Words column in the Daily Telegraph. His recent book, Ologies and Isms, a dictionary of affixes, was published by Oxford University Press in August 2002. His next, Port Out, Starboard Home: And Other Language Myths, was published in the UK by Penguin Books in 2004[....]
=====

Merriam Webster Unabridged
Main Entry: 4 duck Pronunciation Guide


Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): -s

Etymology: Dutch doek cloth, linen, canvas, from Middle Dutch doec; akin to Old Saxon dk cloth, Old High German tuoh, and perhaps to Sanskrit dhvaja flag, Avestan dvazh- to flutter

1 : a durable plain closely woven fabric now usually of cotton made in various weights and used in the gray (as for sails, bags, belting) or with various finishes (as for tents, awnings, clothing) -- compare CANVAS

 

[impressive]

No. Not cloth. Plastic-like stuff. Shiny. You can write on it with a ball-point pen & "erase" it.

 

[Pure]

around here, it tears like cloth and shows its threads after it disintegrates over a couple snowy winters outdoors. not particularly shiny either, more 'flat gray,' often.

 

[SeaCat]

Part of any Red Necks toolbox, along with JB Weld, a hammer, two screwdrivers, one pair of pliers and of course an adjustable wrench. (Oh and we can't forget WD40.)

Cat

Oh and it's duct tape. (In the military it's green and called 100 mile an hour tape. Divers use it as well, best waterproof bandage in the world.)

 

[Stella_Omega]

around here, it tears like cloth and shows its threads after it disintegrates over a couple snowy winters outdoors. not particularly shiny either, more 'flat gray,' often.

Even so, you try leaving any other type of tape out for a couple winters!
The stuff is a marvel.
My landlord gave my son a case of five rolls for his tenth birthday. They really understand each other well!

 

[Stella_Omega]

Part of any Red Necks toolbox, along with JB Weld, a hammer, two screwdrivers, one pair of pliers and of course an adjustable wrench. (Oh and we can't forget WD40.)

Cat

Oh and it's duct tape. (In the military it's green and called 100 mile an hour tape. Divers use it as well, best waterproof bandage in the world.)

Thta stuff is a little different, I thought. You can hold a wing on a B52 with it, or anyway, mend tears in your tent during a full-on-hurricane...

 

[SeaCat]

Thta stuff is a little different, I thought. You can hold a wing on a B52 with it, or anyway, mend tears in your tent during a full-on-hurricane...

There's one that's even better. (My father gets it when he does his Consultation/teaching gig for Uncle Sam. It's red, (someone has a sense of humor) it's reinforced with Fiberglass, and the glue holds like nothing I've ever seen. (Although it does break down nicely when you hit it with alcohol.) You can literaly tow a car with this stuff. (I know, I've done it.) So far though I haven't seen it on the civilian market.

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

Duct tape is like The Force.

It has a light side and a dark side and it binds the universe together. (Old starship engineer's motto)

 

[Guest]

Duct tape was originally developed the tape and seal joints in metal HVAC ducting. Hence the name and the dull metalic color.

 

[SeaCat]

Duct tape was originally developed the tape and seal joints in metal HVAC ducting. Hence the name and the dull metalic color.

Yep, and then we got our hands on it.

Cat