# Why is Dumpster capitalized? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 17, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677 "2004-02-17T16:49:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677/1 "2004-02-17T16:49:44Z")
I was reading Dan Simmons’ _Hard Freeze_ today, and saw something that I’ve seen before, and I’ve always been curious about it. I a passage in which the main character disposes of a gun, he “threw it in a **Dumpster**.” See the capital D there? Why is that capitalized? Is Dumpster a brand name or something, like Kleenex? That’s my only guess. I’ve seen this in many books, not just this one. It seems like I’ve also seen it in Patricia Cornwell’s books and Stephen King, among others, so it’s not just limited to Simmons. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677/2 "2004-02-17T16:54:21Z")
Yes, Dumpster™ is a [trademark](http://www.bartleby.com/61/24/D0422400.html) for a brand of trash container. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677/3 "2004-02-17T19:55:05Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Yes, Dumpster™ is a [trademark](http://www.bartleby.com/61/24/D0422400.html) for a brand of trash container. This reminds me of something I’ve seen in many books: Why is “realtor” capitalized everywhere? You’ll see “He is a Realtor”. But you’d never see “She is a Doctor”. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677/4 "2004-02-17T20:01:38Z")
Realtor is a trademark too. You are only allowed to call yourself a Realtor if you have permission from the [National Association of Realtors](http://www.realtor.org/realtororg.nsf/pages/whoisarealtor). ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677/5 "2004-02-17T20:01:47Z")
> [@Mama Zappa](#): > > This reminds me of something I’ve seen in many books: Why is “realtor” capitalized everywhere? You’ll see “He is a Realtor”. But you’d never see “She is a Doctor”. “Realtor” is a registered trademark owned by the National Association of Realtors and designates a member of that society. In other words, anyone (within proper legal limits, of course) can be a “real estate agent”, but only members of the NAR can be Realtors. See [this site](http://www.larealtors.org/about/realtor.asp). Robin ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677/6 "2004-02-17T20:02:24Z")
Same answer: Realtor is a trademark. A real estate agent needs to join the [National Association of Realtors](http://www.realtor.com) to call himself one. Doctor is a generic term. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677/7 "2004-02-17T20:03:12Z")
Oh, and Dumpster is properly spelled DumpsTer. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677/8 "2004-02-17T20:07:04Z")
No amount of Googling ® could turn up an owner for the Dumpster ™ brand name, though, suggesting it isn’t terribly well-protected. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677/9 "2004-02-17T20:27:54Z")
Look for [Dempster Dumpster](http://www.fountaincitytnhistory.info/People7-Dempster.htm). Invented in the mid-1930s by George Dempster to help with his construction business. Quite the big deal - all his competitors kept buying his Dumpster from him. George and his brothers quit construction and formed Dempster Brothers, Inc. It revolutionized the garbage industry. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677/10 "2004-02-17T20:55:16Z")
**Bart:** Otto-Man? You’re living in a dumpster? **Otto:** Ho, man, I wish. Dumpster-brand trash bins are top-of-the-line. This is just a Trash-Co waste disposal unit. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-dumpster-capitalized/229677/11 "2004-02-17T21:09:10Z")
> [@Mama Zappa](#): > > This reminds me of something I’ve seen in many books: Why is “realtor” capitalized everywhere? You’ll see “He is a Realtor”. But you’d never see “She is a Doctor”. Well, actually you _do_ often see people randomly capitalize doctor like that. I would say it was strictly among the less intellectually endowed and educated, but I’ve seen it multiple times on this very message board. I guess it’s one of those things where people capitalize words they think are important.