=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
  EDline Vol. 8, no. 4    (23 January 2003)

  Editorial mailing list (digest version)
  Published by the Electric Editors
  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

  Contents:

         Q & A
  [2xd]  Trade names in poetry

  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


---[2]-- Q & A --------------------------------------------------

         Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003
         From: Dawn Loewen, dawnloewen@shaw.ca

I'm copy-editing a poetry manuscript that is being published
posthumously. In two instances, trade names are included but are
not in the proper format ("jello" and "silly-putty," the latter
used as an adjective, rather than "Jell-O" and "Silly Putty"). In
other cases, (e.g., "Nutrasweet," "Cadillac") the proper
upper-case format is used.

I am loathe to change much in the manuscript, for obvious
reasons. Chicago says that "a reasonable effort" should be made
to represent trade names in their proper form in running text.
Can an exception be made for poetry, even if doing so creates an
internal inconsistency in the way trade names are treated? I
can't imagine that the companies concerned would be too upset to
see their product names represented as an everyday, integrated
part of the English language!


         ---------------------
         Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003
         From: Karen Augustine, culturamorena@rogers.com

i would change them to their proper format.


         ---------------------
         Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003
         From: Nick Hudson, ur015429@a1.com.au

Our major companies employ armies of PR experts paid to persuade
us that their names are public currency, and then armies of IP
lawyers to sue us if we are so persuaded.

In the present case, no one is going to get sued. The use of the
name in a poem is a triumph for the PR departments - free
publicity. A street-wise poet will have negotiated with them in
advance and now send them a bill.

The only conceivable exception would happen if the poet used the
term as a generic, e.g. talk about a Ford caterpillar or a
Hewlett Packard xerox. 


  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
  END OF EDline 8.4

  Admin page: < http://www.electriceditors.net/edline/admin.htm >

  ** The views expressed in this mailing list are strictly those
  of the individual contributors, and do not necessarily reflect
  the views of the moderators or of the Electric Editors. **

  Articles (c) 2002--2003, by individual contributors
  Design (c) 1996--2003 Iain Brown
  Compilation (c) 2003 Iain Brown / The Electric Editors
  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=