Trademarks: Common

In general, avoid using brand names. Instead, choose a more detailed but generic description. (Product stories are an obvious exception.)
incorrect: The IKEA sofa creates a lively focal point.
correct: A bright, contemporary sofa creates a lively focal point.

Be aware that some names that have made their way into the vernacular are actually trademarked brand names that usually should be avoided. Con-Tact paper, Crock-Pot, Jacuzzi, Lycra, Plexiglas, Sheetrock, Spackle, Styrofoam, Technicolor (added 1/24/24), Thermos, and Velcro are just a few. If you do use a trademarked name, be sure you’re using it correctly. It’s just as bad to call a generic product “Plexiglas” as it is to call the name brand “plexiglass.” Also, use trademark symbols (™ and ®) only with Meredith products.

Following is a list of common trademarks with the appropriate generic terminology. For a more complete list, search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database.

Anaglyptaembossed decorative wall covering
Baggiesplastic bags
Band-Aidadhesive bandages
Bel Paesecheese
Bundt panfluted cake/tube pan
Carborundumabrasive
Chalk Paintpaint with a matte, almost chalky, finish
Con-Tactself-sticking covering
Coriansolid-surfacing
CorningWare (12/2/20)cookware, ovenware
Cran-cranberry
Crescent wrenchadjustable-end wrench
Crock-Potslow cooker
Cuisinartfood processor
Cyclone fencechain-link fence
Dacronpolyester fiber/fiberfill
Day-Glofluorescent
Derby-Piechocolate-nut pie
Dry Icerefrigerant
Feather Rocklightweight or porous rock
Fiberglasfiberglass/glass fibers
Fiestawareuse for Fiesta products made by Homer Laughlin China Co.
Filophyllo/pastry dough
Flex-arm lampswing-arm lamp
Formicaplastic laminate
Gunitepneumatically applied concrete
Herculonolefin fiber
Hershey’s KissesKisses milk chocolates (see Word List)
Hide-A-Bedsofa bed
Hot Trayelectric warming tray
Instant Potmultifunction electric pressure cooker
Jacuzziwhirlpool bath
Jell-Ogelatin
Jenn-Airself-venting range
Kiddie Kartoy car
Kitty Littercat box filler
Kool-Aidsoft-drink mix
Laundromatcoin laundry/self-service laundry
Legosplastic construction toys
Lincrustadecorative wall coverings
Liquid Nailsbuilding materials adhesive
Louver draperyvertical blinds
Luciteacrylic resin/acrylic plastic
Lycraspandex fiber
Maceliquid tear gas
Masa Harinatortilla flour
Masonitehardboard/fiberboard
Molly boltexpansion bolt/hollow wall anchor
Mylarclear polyester film
Naval Jellypetroleum jelly
Oasisfloral foam (updated 2/6/17)
Peg-Boardperforated board/pegboard
Pellonfusible webbing
Ping-Pongtable tennis
Plastic Woodwood filler
Play-Dohmodeling clay
Plexiglasacrylic plastic/plexiglass
Poly-Filsynthetic fiber
Polywebfusible webbing
Popsiclefrozen dessert/pop stick
Procionfabric dye
Pyrexheat-resistant glassware
Q-Tipscotton swabs
Realtorreal estate agent (unless member)
Roquefortblue cheese
Saran Wrapplastic film
Scotchgardprotective spray coating
Sheetrockdrywall/wallboard/plasterboard
Shabby Chictimeworn elegance/timeworn chic
Simonizpolish/wax
Sonontubesconcrete form tubes
Spacklesurfacing compound
Spodesponge ware
Stetsonhigh-brimmed hat
Stitch Witcheryfusible webbing
Styrofoamfoam
Tabasco saucehot pepper sauce
Teflonfluorocarbon resins/nonstick coating
Thermopaneinsulated glass
Thermosthermal container
Tinkertoyconstruction toy
Ultrasuedeimitation suede
Vaselinepetroleum jelly
Velcrotouch fastener/hook-and-loop tape
Vise-Griplocking plier-wrench
Waferwoodwaferboard
Walkmanportable radio/stereo and headphones
Weed Eatergrass and weed trimmer
Weight Watchersdiet foods
Woodtapedecorative wood strips
X-actocrafts knife
Xeroxphotocopy
Yellow Pagesno longer a trademark, but often capitalized
Ziplocresealable plastic storage bags, ziplock plastic bags

Trademarks
Common trademarks
Meredith trademarks

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