spell allen wrench?

annr

annr

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I'm writing a book that includes the use of allen wrenches. I can't determine if it is spelled Allen (capital A) or allen (lower case a). Help?

I started with allen wrench and now on the net keep seeing Allen wrench:confused: Which is correct?

Or are both acceptable? ...I'd like to sound like I know what I'm talking about:D.
 
yeah its a hex key/wrench, allen was a company that made hex wrenchs back in the day, probably still do.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
h-e-x-k-e-y


:)
Click to expand...

Yup, already have hex key. :)
My audience is both English and non-English speakers... also, wanted to make it easy on some poor bloke --never heard of a hex key OR allen wrench-- who may be looking things up with a dictionary.

One of my dictionaries doesn't have any citation. I found another that says it's spelled Allen wrench OR allen wrench--I guess was wondering if either were preferred, if people liked the look of one over the other.





 
Allen wrench is like Kleenex, the trade name comes to mean the entire generic classification
wikipedia
The Allen wrench trademark of the Allen Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut was taken out in 1943, and Allen became such a successful brand of hex key that many consumers in subsequent decades have assumed that the internal-wrenching hexagon drive was invented by someone named Allen
 
12345678910 said:
Allen wrench is like Kleenex, the trade name comes to mean the entire generic classification
wikipedia
The Allen wrench trademark of the Allen Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut was taken out in 1943, and Allen became such a successful brand of hex key that many consumers in subsequent decades have assumed that the internal-wrenching hexagon drive was invented by someone named Allen
Click to expand...

Brand name recognition is what any manufacturer would want; Allen wrench, Kleenex, WD-40, Boraxo etc. They have competitors making similar products, but they get asked for by a brand name. Knowing this to be true for Allen wrench, I would probably capitalize it myself. I want to compliment you on your thoroughness of your research. I am sure your writing will be well worth the read.
 
It's usually spelled Allen, but as MORIMOTOM pointed out, it's a hex key unless I strip the socket in the screw. Then I call it something else. ;)
 
annr said:
I'm writing a book that includes the use of allen wrenches. I can't determine if it is spelled Allen (capital A) or allen (lower case a). Help?

I started with allen wrench and now on the net keep seeing Allen wrench:confused: Which is correct?

Or are both acceptable? ...I'd like to sound like I know what I'm talking about:D.
Click to expand...

Annr: I think Allen Wrench/allen wrench is sexist. :D
You could start a new trend by renaming the tool by writing it as: Ellen Wrench/ellen wrench. :D
 
Sold. Allen wrench it is. Thanks, everyone.

555,
You may be on to something: I bet Ellen/ellen would sell more copies than poor old Allen.;)


Chris, your kind words are appreciated. I'm amazed that books make it to print after the hours-- and days and months and years by now--that this is taking to get this *just so*. As chief cook and bottle washer I'm losing my mind.:D
 
Karda,

Transcendental moditation is very good. I wish I had come up with that!

Ann,
The schizophrenic nature of an author is knowing you are good enough to be published, but never finishing the work, thinking it could be better with one more edit.
Do not stop!
 
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