"google" as a verb: not capitalized?

Flint · 08-24-2006, 11:18 AM

What's the rule on this? When you use a proper noun as a verb, it loses the capitalization?

dar512 · 08-24-2006, 11:30 AM

The Google people would rather you didn't use google as a verb.

Flint · 08-24-2006, 11:35 AM

Like LEGO doesn't want people to say "LEGOs" when referring to, well, the toys that every single kid, ever, in the universe, since forever, has refered to as LEGOs. The url "legos.com" is now just a redirect to "lego.com" - but it used to be a disclaimer warning people that they should refer to LEGO products as "lego brand bricks" or some shit like that. Hasn't anybody ever told these corporations that there is no such thing as bad press?

glatt · 08-24-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

Hasn't anybody ever told these corporations that there is no such thing as bad press?

Tell that to Aspirin.

From Wikipedia: "Bayer had been unable to stop competitors from copying the formula and using the name elsewhere, and so, with a flooded market, the public was unable to recognize "Aspirin" as coming from only one manufacturer. Sterling [which purchased the rights to Aspirin after the US government seized them during WWI*] was subsequently unable to prevent "Aspirin" from being ruled a genericized trademark in a U.S. federal court in 1921."

* inserted by glatt

headsplice · 08-24-2006, 11:54 AM

They try and walk the line between commonality of use and denigration of their trademark. That being said, as a verb, it's lowercase (i.e., not a proper noun).
Grammar Patrol....AWAYYYY!!!! <whooshing of cape as I run down the cube alley>

Flint · 08-24-2006, 12:19 PM

Pardon my ignorance, but in Kingpin when they said "you don't wanna get Munsoned out there" or in Married With Children when they said "hey man, don't Bundy that book" - you're saying that would properly be "munsoned" and "bundy" ???

Pangloss62 · 08-24-2006, 12:21 PM

I generally don't appreciate it when English usage falls into the "noun as verb" routine. Where I work we "partner" with stakeholders. Much of this change came out of corporate America as companies strove to sound new and innovative. Think glossy brocure or employee pep rally. But there are some phrases that should just be banned:

Any version of "thinking outside of the box." A most egregious use of this is when people say "think out of the box" which sounds to me that the person's thoughts are pre-esembled and ready to be expressed as soon as they come out of a box, so it's sounds opposite of what it should mean.

Recently, "step up," "stepping up," or "stepping up to the plate" is out of control. They even have a movie called "Step Up"

I will scream if I hear (like I did this morning on the radio) anyone referring to "taking it to the next level." Of all the stupid catch phrases, this is the worst and most overly used.

Can you guys think of any more?

dar512 · 08-24-2006, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pangloss62

Can you guys think of any more?

The mind boggles.

Elspode · 08-24-2006, 12:36 PM

What about verbs used as nouns and adjectives, as in, "Fuck you, you fucking fuck"?

Pangloss62 · 08-24-2006, 01:12 PM

Ahhhh, fuck, the most durable and effective word we have.

"You fuckers are fucking fucked." The possiblilities seem endless.

headsplice · 08-24-2006, 02:17 PM

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuckkity fuck."

Griff · 08-24-2006, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

Tell that to Aspirin.

I'm gonna google that tale on Dogpile.

08-24-2006, 11:18 AM	#1
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	"google" as a verb: not capitalized? What's the rule on this? When you use a proper noun as a verb, it loses the capitalization? __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

08-24-2006, 11:30 AM	#2
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	The Google people would rather you didn't use google as a verb. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

08-24-2006, 11:35 AM	#3
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Like LEGO doesn't want people to say "LEGOs" when referring to, well, the toys that every single kid, ever, in the universe, since forever, has refered to as LEGOs. The url "legos.com" is now just a redirect to "lego.com" - but it used to be a disclaimer warning people that they should refer to LEGO products as "lego brand bricks" or some shit like that. Hasn't anybody ever told these corporations that there is no such thing as bad press? __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

08-24-2006, 11:54 AM	#5
headsplice Relaxed Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 676	They try and walk the line between commonality of use and denigration of their trademark. That being said, as a verb, it's lowercase (i.e., not a proper noun). Grammar Patrol....AWAYYYY!!!! <whooshing of cape as I run down the cube alley> __________________ Don't Panic

08-24-2006, 12:19 PM	#6
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Pardon my ignorance, but in Kingpin when they said "you don't wanna get Munsoned out there" or in Married With Children when they said "hey man, don't Bundy that book" - you're saying that would properly be "munsoned" and "bundy" ??? __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

08-24-2006, 12:21 PM	#7
Pangloss62 Lecturer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 768	Nouns as Verbs I generally don't appreciate it when English usage falls into the "noun as verb" routine. Where I work we "partner" with stakeholders. Much of this change came out of corporate America as companies strove to sound new and innovative. Think glossy brocure or employee pep rally. But there are some phrases that should just be banned: Any version of "thinking outside of the box." A most egregious use of this is when people say "think out of the box" which sounds to me that the person's thoughts are pre-esembled and ready to be expressed as soon as they come out of a box, so it's sounds opposite of what it should mean. Recently, "step up," "stepping up," or "stepping up to the plate" is out of control. They even have a movie called "Step Up" I will scream if I hear (like I did this morning on the radio) anyone referring to "taking it to the next level." Of all the stupid catch phrases, this is the worst and most overly used. Can you guys think of any more? __________________ Things are never as good, or bad, as they seem. Last edited by Pangloss62; 08-24-2006 at 12:24 PM.

08-24-2006, 12:36 PM	#9
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	What about verbs used as nouns and adjectives, as in, "Fuck you, you fucking fuck"? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

08-24-2006, 01:12 PM	#10
Pangloss62 Lecturer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 768	Fuck This Ahhhh, fuck, the most durable and effective word we have. "You fuckers are fucking fucked." The possiblilities seem endless. __________________ Things are never as good, or bad, as they seem.

08-24-2006, 02:17 PM	#11
headsplice Relaxed Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 676	"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuckkity fuck." __________________ Don't Panic

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