# q-tip? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 28, 2001, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-tip/95794 "2001-11-28T22:02:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cam4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@cam4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cam4)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-tip/95794/1 "2001-11-28T22:02:47Z")
hey… my first post here. anyway, i just found this board and i’m hoping someone will be able to answer a question that’s been hanging about me for a few months now. does anybody know what the “q” in “q-tip” stands for? am i just retarded? is it really obvious? i mean, the things are tipped w/ cotton… it makes no sense, though i have my hunches. thanks. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-tip/95794/2 "2001-11-28T22:11:42Z")
I’ve always heard that it stands for Quality, but a quick google search, while finding others making that claim, didn’t have any real evidence. It did turn up this: [http://www.bway.net/~you/qtip.html](http://www.bway.net/~you/qtip.html) People have a lot of time on their hands. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-tip/95794/3 "2001-11-28T22:12:15Z")
Welcome. Cecil dealt with the question of where the name [/url=“[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_343.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_343.html)”]Q-tips comes from. The official line is that it comes from “quality tips”, but Cecil opines that it really comes from the fact that the tips look like a Q. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-tip/95794/4 "2001-11-28T22:13:31Z")
According to [this site](http://www.wackyuses.com/qtips.html) (and several others that a quick Google search turned up) the Q stands for Quality. Ask and ye shall receive. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-tip/95794/5 "2001-11-28T22:13:34Z")
Oops, screwed up the link coding: [Q-tips](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_343.html). ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-tip/95794/6 "2001-11-28T22:13:41Z")
[The Master Speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_343.html): In short, because it sounds better than “Baby Gays.” Welcome aboard, cam! ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-tip/95794/7 "2001-11-28T22:14:31Z")
Damn. Beaten to it. Ask and ye shall receive several people who have too much time on their hands 😉