I know the name states what it does (anchor-persons use it for news reporting), but why the caps? Does anyone know what the “real” name of this device is?
Thanks
Quasi
Never seen it spelled that way. I’ve always just written “Teleprompter” as in “device which prompts from afar.”
Perhaps it is one of those brand-name things, like Kleenex or Rollerblade.
According to my AP Stylebook –
TelePrompTer A tradmark for a type of cuing deveice.
It is no relation to Teleprompter Corp., a cable television company with headquarters in New York.
(Also used in other television productions, not just news! It’s often referred to as “the prompter.”)
I was trying to make words out of the capitalized portions of the name and couldn’t come up with anything for “Ter”.
Quasi
It’s spelled TelePromTer because, as the AP stylebook indicates, that’s how the company making device officially named it. For trade names, that’s what decides. (It’s the same for personal names, BTW.)