Here is an interesting follow-up to Patty's question about the word
"listserv". How do you make "listserv" plural? You don't! Well, at least
that is what L-Soft, the holder of the trademark for LISTSERV®, would tell
us.

The generic word "listserv" is an eponym, a proper noun that has lost its
"properness" over time and has become a generic word. This is similar to all
facial tissue being called "kleenex" or asking someone to "xerox" something.
This is a very common language process as evidenced by the fact that words
like escalator, zipper, yo yo, aspirin, and many more used to be trademarked
terms. (There is a legal process that acknowledges the generic use of
trademarked terms and actually dissolves the trademark, which is why many
trademark holders are passionate about branding!)

LISTSERV® is a registered trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office. So, technically, using the word "listserv" to describe any
email-based mailing list is a trademark misuse.

However, the eponym process has taken hold and is unlikely to be shaken off.
Even the *Chicago Manual of Style* recognizes this and suggest "listservs"
as the best choice for the plural. This is the plural version I use; while I
recognize the validity of the trademark, I find it difficult to avoid the
use of the generic term.

If you want to avoid the issue, you can always use standard generic terms
like "electronic mailing list," "elist," "email list software," etc.

For L-Soft's position on the use of their trademark, see the following site:
http://www.lsoft.com/corporate/trademark.asp

John

On Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 10:11 AM, Patricia Lafayllve <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

>  Eduard,
>
>
>
> I am a member of many mailing lists and listservs (listserves?  What is the
> correct plural for listserv?  I admit I’m just not sure!), and have seen
> enough of the pattern time and again that I have learned to recognize it
> early, and then simply ignore the behavior, since nothing any one person can
> do will change it.
>
>
>
> -patty
>
>
>
> *From:* Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:
> [log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Eduard Hanganu
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 01, 2010 7:28 AM
>
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* Re: Traffic Surge
>
>
>
> Patty,
>
>
>
> Right to the point.
>
>
>
> Eduard
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Patricia Lafayllve <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 15:53
> Subject: Re: Traffic Surge
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> > It may be time to bring this article to the list:
> >
> >
> >
> > http://www.alpharubicon.com/trolls.htm
> >
> >
> >
> > It is off the topic of grammar, but timely to the thread below.
> >
> >
> >
> > -patty
> >
> >
> >
> > From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carole Hurlbut
> > Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 12:35 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Traffic Surge
> >
> >
> >
> > Brad,
> >
> >
> >
> > Your last response has no place on a listserv. The insults are a poor
> > reflection on our profession.
> >
> >
> >
> > Carole
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >
> > From: Brad Johnston <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> >
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 9:34 PM
> >
> > Subject: Re: Traffic Surge
> >
> >
> >
> > John,
> >
> >
> >
> > I'm sorry your wife left you for another man, or was it a woman?
> > I've heard
> > it both ways. But your anger is misdirected at me. I really had
> > nothing to
> > do with it. I don't even know him, or her, as the case may be.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >   _____
> >
> >
> > From: John Eleen <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Sent: Fri, August 27, 2010 4:55:40 PM
> > Subject: Re: Traffic Surge
> >
> > Brad,
> >
> >
> >
> > You missed the point entirely, as expected, and like always, you lack
> > justification in your arguments.
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 11:31 AM, Brad Johnston
> > <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > It is said the average American doesn't understand sentences
> > with more than
> > 13 words. (oops, that's 14). Was a sentence with 11 words too
> > much for you,
> > John?
> >
> >
> >
> > There are three more words after "An option would be to keep the
> > linguists".Look at it again. Maybe you can grasp "but ban
> > linguistics". Those three
> > little words finished the thought.
> >
> >
> >
> > Try it again. You can do it.
> >
> >
> >
> > Sorry, John. I'll try to write shorter, simpler sentences in the
> > future. We
> > want everyone, even the slow, to be able to stick with us. (13 words)
> >
> >
> >
> > (You're trying too hard to be ugly, John. Give it up. Let it go.
> > Everyonehas a 'delete' option. They don't need your help.)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >   _____
> >
> >
> > From: John Eleen <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Sent: Fri, August 27, 2010 1:35:45 PM
> > Subject: Re: Traffic Surge
> >
> >
> >
> > You seem not to have an interest in grammar either, judging by your
> > impeccable reasoning skills.
> >
> >
> >
> > A                  B
> >
> > Linguists -> may crowd grammar out
> >
> >
> >
> > Your option:
> >
> >                  A
> >
> > Keep the linguists.
> >
> >
> >
> > Brad, this is why no one here takes you seriously. They give you
> > the rope
> > and you do the rest.
> >
> > On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 5:08 AM, Brad Johnston
> > <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > Have you noticed the surge in grammar traffic since someone
> > suggested the
> > linguists may be crowding grammar out?
> >
> >
> >
> > An option would be to keep the linguists but ban linguistics.
> > Linguists have
> > an interest in grammar, even if vice is not versa.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
> > interfaceat: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and
> > select "Join or leave
> > the list"
> >
> > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
> >
> >   _____
> >
> >
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3098 - Release Date:
> > 08/27/1013:34:00
> >
> > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
> > interfaceat: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and
> > select "Join or leave
> > the list"
> >
> > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
> >
> >
> > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
> > interface at:
> >      http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
> > and select "Join or leave the list"
> >
> > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
> >
>
> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface
> at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or
> leave the list"
>
> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
>  To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
> interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select
> "Join or leave the list"
>
> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
>

To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/