# Brochures but no pamphlets **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869 "2013-06-25T13:57:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lighthouse9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@lighthouse9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lighthouse9)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/1 "2013-06-25T13:57:20Z")
I remember when pamphlets were offered in advertising. Now, all you hear about are brochures. I don’t want brochures, I want pamphlets or at least an option between the two. What gives? Call me crazy, but this annoys me. ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/2 "2013-06-25T14:11:07Z")
What distinction are you drawing between the two? If you’re looking or something a little longer & more in-depth, the terminology you want is “special report” or “free report”. For something more technical & less sales-y, look for a case study or white paper. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/3 "2013-06-25T14:28:40Z")
I too am wondering what the difference is. (My wild guess is that a brochure might be a single folded page, while a pamphlet is at least two sheets folded and stapled to be like a booklet.) ---
**Author:** ![lighthouse9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@lighthouse9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lighthouse9)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/4 "2013-06-25T14:36:16Z")
Thanks, Keeve. I suppose I’m old enough to remember that a pamphlet was often offered in advertising. In these modern times, I hear a reference to a “pamphlet” rarely mentioned if at all. It’s an observation and a question at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/5 "2013-06-25T14:49:48Z")
> [@lighthouse9](#): > > I suppose I’m old enough to remember that a pamphlet was often offered in advertising. In what context are you talking about? Where were pamphlets used in advertising? Did you get them in stores next to the product, mailed to your house, etc? You can still find them in some advertising contexts but these days less and less printed materials are used. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/6 "2013-06-25T15:01:53Z")
Where do you stand on the gummed labels you have to lick vs. the ones you just peel and paste controversy? ---
**Author:** ![lighthouse9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@lighthouse9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lighthouse9)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/7 "2013-06-25T15:18:11Z")
Qadgop, I prefer the peel and stick. That is an improvement due to sanitary reasons. You never know what you pick up on your fingers in the course of a day. I wouldn’t mind being offered a pamphlet giving the pros and cons on this matter though.😃 ---
**Author:** ![lighthouse9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@lighthouse9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lighthouse9)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/8 "2013-06-25T15:20:59Z")
I remember pamphlets being offered with many various items offered on TV, Telemark. Now, it’s all brochures. I know this is a bit silly, but it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/9 "2013-06-25T15:23:21Z")
Pamphlets are just small pamphs. Whereas brochures are much better, imo. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/10 "2013-06-25T15:25:19Z")
Can you clarify what you mean by a brochure and a pamphlet, and in what context you might receive either? I’m a graphic designer, and I’m having trouble wrapping my head around your beef. ( **Keeve** , you’ve got things the wrong way round - a brochure is a typically more substantial, multi-page document. A pamphlet, aka as a leaflet or flyer, is a simple, short, unbound and typically 2-6pp piece) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/11 "2013-06-25T15:26:16Z")
> [@lighthouse9](#): > > I remember pamphlets being offered with many various items offered on TV, Telemark. Now, it’s all brochures. I know this is a bit silly, but it’s true. I’m still not clear on the difference you are drawing between pamphlet and brochure. Please enlighten me. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/12 "2013-06-25T15:26:47Z")
> [@lighthouse9](#): > > I remember when pamphlets were offered in advertising. Now, all you hear about are brochures. I don’t want brochures, I want pamphlets or at least an option between the two. What gives? Call me crazy, but this annoys me. Your ideas intrigue me, and I wish to subscribe to your **newsletter**. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/13 "2013-06-25T15:32:30Z")
> [@lighthouse9](#): > > Call me crazy . . . You are crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/14 "2013-06-25T15:36:31Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Pamphlets are just small pamphs. Whereas brochures are much better, imo. Sure, bro. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/15 "2013-06-25T15:40:30Z")
Whenever I hear the word “pamphlet” I have a vision of single-sided political or religous treatises being handed out in 17-18th century London. “Brochure” brings to mind something thick, glossy and more style than substance, such as Simon Cowell. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/16 "2013-06-25T15:49:01Z")
while the words are synonymous there can be different usage; brochure would tend to be a single sheet folded, pamphlet might be saddle stapled or stitched. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/17 "2013-06-25T15:55:36Z")
> [@lighthouse9](#): > > I remember pamphlets being offered with many various items offered on TV, Telemark. Now, it’s all brochures. I know this is a bit silly, but it’s true. What specifically was offered on TV with a pamphlet? How is the information provided any different if it’s in a slightly different format? ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/18 "2013-06-25T16:01:54Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > while the words are synonymous there can be different usage; brochure would tend to be a single sheet folded, pamphlet might be saddle stapled or stitched. That’s exactly what I meant in my first post. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/19 "2013-06-25T16:01:54Z")
Than what’s a tri-fold? ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869/20 "2013-06-25T16:05:08Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > What specifically was offered on TV with a pamphlet? How is the information provided any different if it’s in a slightly different format? Life insurance? Stock tips? Reverse mortgages? Anything where the advertiser says, “Call this number today, and we’ll send you more information!”, I’d expect to receive some sort of printed information in the mail, either as a brochure, or a pamphlet, or a booklet. Nowadays it might be as a CD or DVD, but those are very different than the others. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brochures-but-no-pamphlets/661869.md?page=2)