Re: Zip a proper noun?--Clarification

[Virginia Day <Virginia_Day -at- DATACARD -dot- COM>]

     Hi,

     I don't think Zip should be used as a noun, even a compound noun.  I
     would prefer:

     ZipMagic lets you use zipped files without unzipping them.

     Zipped is an adjective.  This would also avoid possible confusion on
     the user's part between files compressed using a zip format, and files
     stored on a Zip drive.  (A person can use technology without really
     understanding it.)

     It might even protect you from trademark infringement. (I don't have a
     Zip drive on my desk, so I don't know what Iomega trademarks.)

     Regards, Virginia


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Zip a proper noun?--Clarification
Author:  Miark <miark -at- MIJENIX -dot- COM> at Internet
Date:    11/13/97 12:56 PM


My company writes compression utility programs that revolve around the Zip
format, so I don't write about Zip drives. As for the question of nouns and
verbs, I use the word both as a capitalized noun, as in

    ZipMagic lets you use Zip files without unzipping them.

and as a verb, as in

    ZipMagic will then zip the selected file.

I cap the noun because, although compression is generic, the Zip archive is
a very specific beast. Like the difference between "car" and "Taurus". As
for not capitalizing the verb, I have no excuse other than I hate
capitalizing verbs.

What do y'all--notice the correct spelling of y'all!--think?

Mike


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