u/HughFays

Pete got so annoyed when the BBC news segment about competitive furniture building used the term “hex key” instead of allen key.

I understand why. The BBC are so insistent on not mentioning brand names (because of their status as a public broadcaster) that they refrain from doing so even when the brand name / trademark has become generic. No one is seriously going to think that saying “allen key” is a plug for the Allen Manufacturing Company - it’s a generic term.

I used to get similarly annoyed as a kid when Blue Peter presenters said “sticky tape” instead of sellotape.