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leslie
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 244
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 Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:43 am Post subject: featuring products? |
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Hi,
If someone runs a stationery company and he tries to introduce his products that totally and truely stand out and represent his company. What are the natural ways to express this? Are the following sentences natural and correct?
1. Our main featuring products are a, b, and c.
2. Our representative works are a, b, and c.
3. A, b, and c are our most popular products.
Or any other ways to expres this?
Thank you very much for your help.
Leslie
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dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:13 am Post subject: |
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Hi Leslie,
1. Our main featuring products are a, b, and c. (X)
This is just grammatically wrong. You might change this to something like
Ex. Our featured products are a, b and c.
The second one
2. Our representative works are a, b, and c. (?)
...isn't really grammatically wrong, but sounds strange in this context. The word works, in the countable sense, is usually applied to works of art. Changing it to products would be better; however, just saying this doesn't seem to have much punch to it, at least in my opinion.
3. A, b, and c are our most popular products.
This sounds fine to me.
Now Leslie, please bear in mind that if I were a real pro at writing ad copy, then instead of teaching adult English in Taiwan I'd be kicking back in my cushy Madison Avenue office right now being given a foot massage by a secretary whose name ends with the letter i.  But, uuh, I'm sorry--I lost my train of thought. . . .
Anyway, here are a couple ideas to play with:
Ex. The XYZ Company is proud to introduce its line of high quality products, including a, b and c.
Ex. We are pleased to introduce you to three of our most popular products: a, b and c.
Ex. A, b and c are our signature products, and represent the top of the line in quality and craftsmanship.
There are probably a few people out there who have half an idea of what constitutes decent ad copy (and they are probably rolling on the floor laughing right now). As soon as a couple of them can regain their composure, maybe they can toss out a couple of different ideas. 
dragn |
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leslie
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 244
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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First of all, thank you very much for your help, dragon.
| Quote: |
| Now Leslie, please bear in mind that if I were a real pro at writing ad copy, then instead of teaching adult English in Taiwan I'd be kicking back in my cushy Madison Avenue office right now being given a foot massage by a secretary whose name ends with the letter i. |
Second of all, I have no idea that this question might drive you back into the memory lane!  Hope it's cosy and sweet!!
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| There are probably a few people out there who have half an idea of what constitutes decent ad copy (and they are probably rolling on the floor laughing right now). |
Third of all, how so? you think what you wrote too pompous and decent in a way for readers nowadays?
Fourth of all, what is signature product? Could you please tell me the differences between 'featuring' and 'featured'?
Fifth of all, yes, I agree with you. Any other comments are welcomed.
Thank you once again, dragon.
Leslie
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dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
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| Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:34 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| you think what you wrote too pompous and decent in a way for readers nowadays? |
Well, "pompous" and "decent" were not exactly the first words that came to my mind.  The comment about people rolling on the floor laughing was just a little self-deprecating humor. I'm just openly admitting that I don't have any real experience writing slick-sounding ad copy, and that my approach could be a bit off the mark. After all, I scarcely have the first clue what it is you're doing.
I really just wanted to give you few ideas to work with; something to stimulate your thinking. All this depends very heavily on the situation--what the products are; how, where, when and why the products are being introduced; to whom they are being introduced and who is introducing them, and so on. And that's just for starters.
Now, I 'm not actually asking you to provide all these details. I'm just saying--in writing this sort of stuff, context is very important. Something that might sound terrific in one situation might sound laughable in another.
If this is just about learning English, that's one thing. However, if you actually have to do this for real, as part of your job or something, you should really be consulting with a native speaker in your area. Preferably somebody in your field; somebody who actually understands what it is you're doing.
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| Fourth of all, what is signature product? |
A signature product is basically one the style or design of which is very closely associated with a certain company or person. In some cases, such products might bear the name of a famous individual, such as a set of golf clubs designed by Tiger Woods, etc.
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| Could you please tell me the differences between 'featuring' and 'featured'? |
If you talk about a featured product, it is being featured by someone, presumably you or your company. You are featuring it, or presenting it to people as a special item...that's what you are doing to the product. Makes sense, right?
However, if you talk about a featuring product, it sounds like the product is doing something. The only possible way I can make sense of that is to ask: What is it featuring? This makes no sense at all. The product can't present anything to people as a special item: that's your job.
Notice that this is not the same as saying the product features something (simple present tense)...that means it has some particular feature (noun).
Hope this helps, and good luck.
dragn |
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