Wednesday, June 6, 2012

duck tape/duct tape: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, June 6, 2012

duck tape/duct tape
A commercial firm has named its product “Duck Tape,” harking back to the original name for this adhesive tape (which was green), developed by Johnson & Johnson during World War II to waterproof ammunition cases. It is now usually called “duct tape,” for its supposed use in connecting ventilation and other ducts (which match its current silver color). Note that modern building codes consider duct tape unsafe for sealing ducts, particularly those that convey hot air.

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