# What do YOU call this stuff? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 28, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389 "2009-01-28T16:08:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/21 "2009-01-28T16:47:36Z")
Sellotape ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/22 "2009-01-28T16:48:37Z")
Scotch Tape ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/23 "2009-01-28T16:54:08Z")
cellotape - not a brand ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/24 "2009-01-28T16:54:47Z")
> [@Lionne](#): > > If it’s small, scotch tape. If it’s large, packing tape. Postin’ “me too,” like some brain-dead AOLer. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/25 "2009-01-28T17:11:17Z")
Sellotape. I just looked and the stuff in the office cupboard is actually 3M ‘Scotch’ tape (with tartan ‘n’ all). Everyone here would still call it _Sellotape_\* \*unless they were obliged to call it _sticky back plastic_. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/26 "2009-01-28T17:11:25Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Postin’ “me too,” like some brain-dead AOLer. I’ll see your “me too” and post “ditto.” ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/27 "2009-01-28T17:54:30Z")
Looked like packing tape. ---
**Author:** ![dmatsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@dmatsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dmatsch)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/28 "2009-01-28T18:02:13Z")
I call it bob. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_Tightlips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Joey\_Tightlips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_Tightlips)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/29 "2009-01-28T18:02:23Z")
Scotch Tape or just Tape too. Those of you who call it Sellotape, would you have known what someone was talking about if they asked for Scotch tape? I would have had no clue what Sellotape was prior to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/30 "2009-01-28T18:04:01Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Looked like packing tape. It looks wide enough to be packing tape. The strange thing is they make [Scotch packaging tape](http://www.amazon.com/3M-Scotch-50-8mmx20-3mm-Packaging-Dispenser/dp/B000J07BRQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_11?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233165619&sr=8-11) and this is the very brand that I happen to have, yet I only call [this stuff](http://www.amazon.com/Scotch-810K6C38-Magic-Value-Dispenser/dp/B000Y52D5G/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1233165619&sr=8-1) “Scotch tape” - the thinner, 1/2" or 3/4" variety. The wider one is just called packing or packaging tape. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/31 "2009-01-28T18:09:51Z")
“Cheap cellophane tape” (because of the clear but yellowish cast. Scotch tape to me is a brand and is more white cast translucent. This kind of cellophane tape makes me think of old paperbacks poorly put back together with now-horrible crumbling old tape) ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/32 "2009-01-28T18:19:57Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Yeah I call it sellotape, but that’s a brand name. They used to say ‘sticky back plastic’ on kids’ shows and that always puzzled me as a kid. Sellotape, which I am aware is a brand name but for me has the same status as “Hoover” or “Xerox”. I would be quite prepared to believe that programmes on the BBC (such as _Blue Peter_) used “sticky-backed plastic” as an alternative, to avoid mentioning the brand name (the BBC has, or perhaps had, very strict rules on advertising), but for the fact that I thought “sticky-backed plastic” was that clear stuff with paper backing that has gridlines on it, and when you peel the paper backing off you can stick it to something - like a cheap laminate. Am I making sense? ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/33 "2009-01-28T18:22:24Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > …I thought “sticky-backed plastic” was that clear stuff with paper backing that has gridlines on it, and when you peel the paper backing off you can stick it to something - like a cheap laminate. Am I making sense? I’ve always known that stuff as “contact paper”. Interestingly, that and several terms of interest in this thread show up [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_words_not_widely_used_in_the_United_States). ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/34 "2009-01-28T18:23:28Z")
Scotch tape, but only because I looked at the link and realized the size. A larger size would be packing tape. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/35 "2009-01-28T18:27:35Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Sellotape, which I am aware is a brand name but for me has the same status as “Hoover” or “Xerox”. I would be quite prepared to believe that programmes on the BBC (such as _Blue Peter_) used “sticky-backed plastic” as an alternative, to avoid mentioning the brand name (the BBC has, or perhaps had, very strict rules on advertising) I was watching an As Time Goes By and they were referring to what I would call a Band-Aid but they used some complicated term\* to avoid a brand name (not sure if the brand name used would be Band-Aid over there??) \*something about plaster but plastic somehow entered into it?? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/36 "2009-01-28T18:44:07Z")
> [@capybara](#): > > “Cheap cellophane tape” (because of the clear but yellowish cast. Scotch tape to me is a brand and is more white cast translucent. This kind of cellophane tape makes me think of old paperbacks poorly put back together with now-horrible crumbling old tape) Yes. It’s way to yellow to be Scotch Brand tape. It’s cheap yellow stuff, so only cellotape. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/37 "2009-01-28T18:49:54Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I was watching an As Time Goes By and they were referring to what I would call a Band-Aid but they used some complicated term\* to avoid a brand name (not sure if the brand name used would be Band-Aid over there??) > \*something about plaster but plastic somehow entered into it?? “[Elastoplast](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastoplast)” is the brand name and “sticking plaster” the generic term for what Americans usually call a “[Band-Aid](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band-Aid)” or “[bandage](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticking_plaster)”. ---
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/38 "2009-01-28T18:50:54Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] What do YOU call this stuff? [/QUOTE] scotch tape. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/39 "2009-01-28T18:55:29Z")
Another vote (votes) for tape or Scotch tape. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389/40 "2009-01-28T19:00:25Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Yes. It’s way to yellow to be Scotch Brand tape. It’s cheap yellow stuff, so only cellotape. I think [Scotch](http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/home_office/home/product_information/transparent_tapes/) sells cheaper yellowish (acetate) tape too; the non-yellow, invisible type sold in a green tartan package is their “[Magic Tape](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Tape)”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-stuff/483389.md?page=3)