# Meaningless Advertising Words **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265 "2018-06-17T16:37:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/41 "2018-06-20T01:10:52Z")
Just saw an ad for **Alka-Seltzer PM**. Contains **Melatonin** , to help you get to sleep easier! Wow! ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/42 "2018-06-20T01:44:16Z")
“SC Johnson, a family company.” And a meaningless oldie: “Pepsi- Generation Next.” ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/43 "2018-06-20T02:17:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Not what you meant, I know, but unless you keep muriatic acid around for cleaning, Coca-Cola probably is the most acidic substance in your house. Only when your stomach is not at home. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/44 "2018-06-20T03:00:06Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Tuscan: Is this just a highbrow way of saying Italian? Tuscany is a region of Italy. So it’s Tuscan-style vs. Neapolitan or Milanese or whatever. > [@DavidwithanR](#): > > The Parker pen company long ago advertised their “A11” ink additive. > > It was in fact “All” brand detergent - they found if they added just a little, people’s fountain pens flowed better. 🙂 Cite, please. This is pretty off-the-wall. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > A radio quiz show that I listen to had a round once where the host would name a so-called secret ingredient, and the panelists have to name the product that once touted that in their advertising. I remember “tetrahydrozoline”, “dextromethorphan”, and “retsyn”. Retsyn is marketing BS, but dextromethorphan is an FDA-approved drug. I think the first one is too. How are those “meaningless marketing words?” Is “ibuprofen” a meaningless marketing word? ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/45 "2018-06-20T03:17:54Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Except there’s nothing fresh about 40-year-old meat inside 12-year-old buns. 😛 Well hey, stay classy there. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/46 "2018-06-20T03:39:06Z")
Green! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/47 "2018-06-20T03:48:41Z")
I bought a bag of Lay’s potato chips yesterday. Earlier today, I noticed that the back of the bag says that they are made from “farm grown potatoes.” Really? No! I thought those potatoes were made in a lab. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/48 "2018-06-20T03:50:57Z")
Gluten free: the local grocery store uses shelf tags to advertise their gluten free orange juice, raw meat, and Balsamic vinegar. I mean, sure, but… ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/49 "2018-06-20T03:55:20Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Retsyn is marketing BS, but dextromethorphan is an FDA-approved drug. I think the first one is too. How are those “meaningless marketing words?” Is “ibuprofen” a meaningless marketing word? I didn’t say those were meaningless marketing words, although I know that’s the topic of the thread. I just thought they were an interesting topic for trivia questions, plus a bit of nostalgia for those of us old enough to remember when those things were touted. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/50 "2018-06-20T04:05:30Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Gluten free: the local grocery store uses shelf tags to advertise their gluten free orange juice, raw meat, and Balsamic vinegar. I mean, sure, but… I actually think that’s a good idea, because gluten can show up in some of the weirdest places. Gluten free water? Sure. Some water is bottled in facilities which also make gluten-containing products. Labeling water that wasn’t eliminates any doubt. Gluten free cheese? You bet. Shredded cheese usually has a small amount of flour added to it to prevent caking, and the GF cheese uses rice or potato flour, not wheat. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/51 "2018-06-20T06:48:44Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Any place with casinos is familiar with them advertising their “Loose” slots. Popular around here, and probably anywhere else is “Certified Loose!” Who certified this? A “weasel word” used in probably half of all ads is “helps” - it’s meaningless and has no legal implications. It’s especially popular in medicine ads. New Skullo helps make your headache go away! Magnificent word there - they don’t have to define how helpful the stuff is (or isn’t). ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/52 "2018-06-20T19:29:13Z")
> [@Rough\_Draft](#): > > Ads for patent medicines often claim they “support” various health goals, like kidney health or prostate health or smoother skin. I’ve often wondered if “support” just means “has practically no effect at all, but at least it doesn’t actively harm you”. They have to phrase it like that under FDA regulations for dietary supplements. If they directly claim a health benefit then they would be regulated as a drug. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/53 "2018-06-20T19:43:01Z")
One I just heard for an air conditioner: “Cool your home for just pennies a day!” How many pennies are we talking about here? 500? 1,000? 5,000? 10,000? :dubious: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/54 "2018-06-20T19:46:06Z")
Can anyone tell me how exactly this shampoo will “revitalize” my hair? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/55 "2018-06-20T20:05:12Z")
A few realtors aroound here advertise with “We will sell your home in x amount of days guaranteed or we will buy your house!” Which is essentially worthless since any home will sell if you bring the price down low enough. “Oh, we priced your home at $300K and even though we dropped the price twice down to $280K it didn’t sell? No problem, we’ll give you $200K for it!” ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/56 "2018-06-20T20:19:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Not what you meant, I know, but unless you keep muriatic acid around for cleaning, Coca-Cola probably is the most acidic substance in your house. Isn’t [orange juice](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tooth-in-advertising/) more acidic that Coca-Cola. Along with several other soft drinks (like Mountain Dew)? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/57 "2018-06-20T22:12:26Z")
“Customer satisfaction”. Of course your customers are satisfied! If they’re not, they shouldn’t be your customers! ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/58 "2018-06-21T21:56:28Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > One I just heard for an air conditioner: “Cool your home for just pennies a day!” How many pennies are we talking about here? 500? 1,000? 5,000? 10,000? :dubious: 😕 That same dodge is used in a lot of contexts, but particularly time/location ones, for example: a real-estate development that’s “just minutes from the city center!” (how many minutes? 60,000,000,000?). ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2018, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/59 "2018-06-22T10:58:26Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Gluten free: the local grocery store uses shelf tags to advertise their gluten free orange juice, raw meat, and Balsamic vinegar. I mean, sure, but… Reminded me of this xkcd strip: [xkcd: Free](https://www.xkcd.com/641/) This strip also belongs somewhere in this thread: [xkcd: Adjective Foods](https://xkcd.com/1774/) ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2018, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265/60 "2018-06-22T12:07:53Z")
Not specifically a word, but “an ingredient originally found in jellyfish” - um, OK. So what? Is there something magical about jellyfish that every except me knows about? Plus we’re talking about a memory aid from a creature that doesn’t have a brain, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-advertising-words/816265.md?page=4)