Use of Brand Names

[Guest]

Hmmm, a quick writing question/advice here. I'm writing a story where I've made use of brand names, i.e. O'Douls Amber and somewhere I mentioned Tevas. I'm wondering if I should state "Teva flip-flops" or just "Tevas" or just drop the brand names entirely?

TIA

 

[Huckleman2000]

Someday, the answer to this question will be "Negotiate for placement rights."

 

[Hotcappucino]

I think adding brand names add a bit of realism and can say a lot about the character using/wearing it. A blonde rollerblading along the boardwalk sporting wraparound Oakleys, for example. And if the brand isn't widely known by the audience, then including the item description would probably be a good idea. In your specific case, I would probably say "Teva flip-flops."

 

[Weird Harold]

Hmmm, a quick writing question/advice here. I'm writing a story where I've made use of brand names, i.e. O'Douls Amber and somewhere I mentioned Tevas. I'm wondering if I should state "Teva flip-flops" or just "Tevas" or just drop the brand names entirely?

TIA

It depends on the context and purpose of using brand names. I have no idea what "Tevas" refers to or even whether it singular or plural.

But as a stylish brand prefered by a snobbish character, the character wouldn't refer to them as "flip-flops" -- although her plebian, low-class boyfriend might.

Some brand names are so common, you can expect readers to know them without explanation -- Coke, Pepsi, Clorox, Xerox, K-Y Jelly, etc -- but high-fashion fad brand names will date your story at the very least and for someone like me who doesn't follow high-fashion fads can be cofusing.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

It depends on the context and purpose of using brand names. I have no idea what "Tevas" refers to or even whether it singular or plural.

But as a stylish brand prefered by a snobbish character, the character wouldn't refer to them as "flip-flops" -- although her plebian, low-class boyfriend might.

Some brand names are so common, you can expect readers to know them without explanation -- Coke, Pepsi, Clorox, Xerox, K-Y Jelly, etc -- but high-fashion fad brand names will date your story at the very least and for someone like me who doesn't follow high-fashion fads can be cofusing.

What Weird Harold said. Substituting a term such as "designer" for a faddish tradename can sometimes convey the same message w/o the risk of confusing readers. What's best would depend on your target audience.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Ness73]

If you want people all over the world to get your stuff, I'd steer clear of brand names except world wide well known, ie Coke, Pepsi, Levis, Jack Daniels etc. I'm in Oz and wouldn't have known what you were talking about without an explanation.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I'm with the general concensus. Use brand names if they are world-wide popular, with a description if no one will know what you mean, or don't use them if that is out of character for what is going on, or will lessen the quality of your story by dating it in a way you don't want to.

 

[Weird Harold]

If you want people all over the world to get your stuff, I'd steer clear of brand names except world wide well known, ie Coke, Pepsi, Levis, Jack Daniels etc. I'm in Oz and wouldn't have known what you were talking about without an explanation.

I wouldn't go that far; giving up brand name references because they're not globally known elimnates a lot of the national flavor of the story -- I still don't know exactly what Vegemite(sp) is but it's fairly easy to pick out that it's a processed food that you Australians can make sandwiches out of.

 

[ChilledVodkaIV]

Clorox?

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I've used brand names from time to time. I used O'Doul's in a humor piece set in 1941 and the barkeep told me they didn't make it yet. I've used Jameson's and Tullimore Dew (brands of Irish Whiskey) in stories. But the name drop has always either been part of a joke or in passing. There never seems to be a problem.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the input

'Tevas' dropped; I'll just leave it flip-flops because brand name in this instance doesn't make a difference. However, I'm wondering about O'Doul's since it is a non-alcoholic brew and I don't want to be repetitive with 'non-alcoholic beer'.

Any suggestions?

 

[ChilledVodkaIV]

cloudy water

 

[Guest]

cloudy water

cloudy water?

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

'Tevas' dropped; I'll just leave it flip-flops because brand name in this instance doesn't make a difference. However, I'm wondering about O'Doul's since it is a non-alcoholic brew and I don't want to be repetitive with 'non-alcoholic beer'.

Any suggestions?

This is the O'Doul's line I used. It worked fine without any modifiers.

"What'll it be?" asked the bartender.

"An O'Doul's and some information," replied Spade pulling out a bright shiney quarter. "This is yours if you've got some answers for me."

The bartender stared hungrily at the quarter. "Get the hell out of here you moron. They don't make O'Doul's in 1941 and that chicken shit quarter will buy you nothing."

 

[Weird Harold]

Clorox?

The brand name of the first commercially available household chlorine bleach -- not as much a generic term as Xerox became for copy machines, but in a 1940's -1970's historical piece, the name an accurate character would use instead of "bleach."

 

[Ness73]

I wouldn't go that far; giving up brand name references because they're not globally known elimnates a lot of the national flavor of the story -- I still don't know exactly what Vegemite(sp) is but it's fairly easy to pick out that it's a processed food that you Australians can make sandwiches out of.

Vegemite goes much better on hot buttered toast! But it is definately an aquired tasted. BTW, it is "concentrated yeast extract", full of vitamin B but very hard to describe the taste. You don't need very much, only a smear, maybe that's why overseas people think it is nasty - a teaspoon of the stuff isn't going to be very nice!

 

[Weird Harold]

BTW, it is "concentrated yeast extract", full of vitamin B but very hard to describe the taste.

I've had people tell me that before, but apparently the whole concept of "concentrated yeast extract" is so gross my subconscious represses it and substitutes "something you can make sandwiches with."