It is not called a tattoo gun

[Cobaltofdark]

It is not called a tattoo gun. In shops it is referred to as a tattoo machine. Little details make your stories better like correct terminology.

 

[TheRedChamber]

But if your POV character thinks it's called a tattoo gun, you call it a tattoo gun in your story.

 

[Cobaltofdark]

But if your POV character thinks it's called a tattoo gun, you call it a tattoo gun in your story.

I suppose but it's still wrong lol

 

[Blind_Justice]

The uninitiated tend to use wrong words to describe something. To many parents in the 80s for example, any video game device was a "Nintendo".

 

[BronzePlaceWriter]

I suppose but it's still wrong lol

When it comes to stories, ''wrong'' or ''right'' can be a bit subjective. For example, using incorrect terminology that us nevertheless widely known will probably lead to more of your readers understanding what you are trying to say. In this case, someone using the term tattoo gun paints a very specific image for me, telling me exactly what it looks like and how it is used,. A tattoo machine on the other hand does not have that level of association.

If I was writing a story with limited words, where every choice counted and I didn't have space to elaborate, it would arguably be better for me to use 'Tattoo gun'' because even though that is not what it is called, it IS what most people would recognise it as. By intentionally using an incorrect word I actually make my work more clear compared to its low word count.

Of course this is highly personal and very much comes down to the author. But in my opinion there is certainly a call for being able to use words in a way that is technically incorrect but popularly understood. It's a process which has happened many times in human history - see ''literally'' ''awesome'' and so forth.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

When it comes to stories, ''wrong'' or ''right'' can be a bit subjective. For example, using incorrect terminology that us nevertheless widely known will probably lead to more of your readers understanding what you are trying to say. In this case, someone using the term tattoo gun paints a very specific image for me, telling me exactly what it looks like and how it is used,. A tattoo machine on the other hand does not have that level of association.

If I was writing a story with limited words, where every choice counted and I didn't have space to elaborate, it would arguably be better for me to use 'Tattoo gun'' because even though that is not what it is called, it IS what most people would recognise it as. By intentionally using an incorrect word I actually make my work more clear compared to its low word count.

Of course this is highly personal and very much comes down to the author. But in my opinion there is certainly a call for being able to use words in a way that is technically incorrect but popularly understood. It's a process which has happened many times in human history - see ''literally'' ''awesome'' and so forth.

I agree, sometimes to make yourself clear it's better to use a name that most people would understand, so you don't have to get too deep into the details. Just out of curiosity, I googled 'Tattoo Guns' and quite a few hits came up, I think so that the average person would know what they were used for. Of course, Tattoo Machine comes up a lot, too, since it's the correct name for the device. Some hits had both, so it looks like the names are somewhat interchangeable.

 

[Voboy]

I can be a pedant about some subjects.

One of the things I've learned is that people quickly grow tired of listening to (or reading) pedants.

 

[Carnevil9]

You could always have one character use the incorrect (but popular) term, and have another character correct him. That way the reader will know both terms and what they mean, and you can use either one (or both) for the rest of the story.

 

[Cobaltofdark]

You could always have one character use the incorrect (but popular) term, and have another character correct him. That way the reader will know both terms and what they mean, and you can use either one (or both) for the rest of the story.

I could totally support this for sure.

 

[lovecraft68]

But if your POV character thinks it's called a tattoo gun, you call it a tattoo gun in your story.

You beat me too it. Kleenex is a brand of facial tissue, but a lot of people call all facial tissue Kleenex. If something is commonly referred to something, even incorrectly, then realistically a character will think of it that way.

In fact I'm willing to bet the OP will get comments telling them they're wrong and its a gun.

 

[tenyari]

Shouldn't this have been a message to the author of whatever story this relates to, or comment on that story?

Or something...?

 

[lovecraft68]

Shouldn't this have been a message to the author of whatever story this relates to, or comment on that story?

Or something...?

Don't get any attention in the forums that way.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I can be a pedant about some subjects.

One of the things I've learned is that people quickly grow tired of listening to (or reading) pedants.

I found a job where I get paid to be a pedant. Since then I've been more selective about giving away my pedantry for free.

 

[Voboy]

I found a job where I get paid to be a pedant.

...which makes you a paidant.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I always thought it was a tattoo iron.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

One should always be wary of citing Wikipedia, but I will anyway.

Modern tattoo machines use electromagnetic coils to move an armature bar up and down. Connected to the armature bar is a barred needle grouping that pushes ink into the skin. Tattoo artists generally use the term "machine", "pen", or even "iron", to refer to their equipment, and the word "gun" is also occasionally used.

My point is that the OP is very likely correct, but on the other hand, the Wikipedia article suggests that some people do indeed refer to it as a ‘gun’. It might be a regional thing.

Now, what you call it in a story is another issue.