# Why did a t-shirt become just a "tee"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 11, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301 "2011-10-11T14:59:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LaurenIpsum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@LaurenIpsum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LaurenIpsum)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/1 "2011-10-11T14:59:59Z")
This is sort of a spin-off of the thread on most hated idioms. I do a lot of my clothing shopping online, because the stores at the mall almost never have my size or preferred color in stock (and I’m not an unusual size). So I just gave up and started ordering stuff online, and returning items to the store if I don’t want them. I buy from most of the commonly-known stores: Gap, Express, The Limited, Ann Taylor, etc. I’ve noticed over the last 5 years or so that none of these websites use the term “t-shirt” anymore. Instead, they are all referred to simply as a “tee.” And they also don’t use “tank top” but instead just call it a “tank.” This really, really annoys me, although I’m not sure exactly why. Maybe because it seems like a weak attempt at sounding “hip” by shortening a term into something that’s even less descriptive than the original. A tank is not a piece of clothing, it’s an armored vehicle. T-shirts were so named because their shape is like the letter T - calling it a “tee” just seems ridiculous. But after a few stores started doing this, now they all do it, because no one wants to be left behind and look uncool. I suppose complaining about this type of thing is a sign of getting old - but I’m only 32! ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/2 "2011-10-11T15:58:56Z")
About the same time Child Care establishments started becoming Kid Kare, Kinder Kare, etc. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/3 "2011-10-11T16:03:27Z")
Whatev. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/4 "2011-10-11T18:22:14Z")
I still can’t bring myself to say “hoodie.” ---
**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/5 "2011-10-11T18:47:46Z")
It’s because of the Internet and more specifical Internet accessed via the phone. On small screens you want to use less space. Since 99% of people will understand Tee = T-shirt, there is no need to for more clutter on a screen. Same applies to newspapers and the famous headline Stix Nix Hix Pix ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/6 "2011-10-11T19:40:27Z")
Stay away from Lands End. They will try to sell you a turtle. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/7 "2011-10-12T10:31:56Z")
> [@AndyLee](#): > > It’s because of the Internet and more specifical Internet accessed via the phone. On small screens you want to use less space. Since 99% of people will understand Tee = T-shirt, there is no need to for more clutter on a screen. > > Same applies to newspapers and the famous headline > > Stix Nix Hix Pix The Internet sure ruined the autobus, too. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/8 "2011-10-12T10:36:39Z")
Some clothes have gone singular now, too. You don’t have a pair of cargo pants, you have a “cargo pant”, or even just a “pant”. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2011, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/9 "2011-10-12T10:54:47Z")
> [@LaurenIpsum](#): > > A tank is not a piece of clothing, it’s an armored vehicle. No it’s not - it’s where we keep our fish and crabs and snails and anemones… This does seem to be a bizarre thing to get wound up about, but having had similar issues of my own, I’ll just move along. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/10 "2011-10-12T11:27:42Z")
I can’t stand it either, but I pretty much figure it’s headline-speak. No actual human referring to their clothes would talk that way. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2011, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/11 "2011-10-12T11:30:29Z")
I’m an actual human, and I’ve been known to say “I’ve packed enough jeans and tees for the week” or “There’s a stack of clean, folded tees on your dresser.” ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/12 "2011-10-12T11:31:32Z")
I’m sorry, we will have to expunge you now _fires up death ray_ :eek: ---
**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:** [October 12, 2011, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/13 "2011-10-12T11:35:32Z")
Dang, you’re a lot meaner than your username looks… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/14 "2011-10-12T11:41:16Z")
TLDNS Too Long Didn’t Need Shirt ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-a-t-shirt-become-just-a-tee/599301/15 "2011-10-12T13:02:13Z")
Would you believe I was savaged by a rabid T as a child? Scarred for life…