Have you ever been in the situation where you are trying to describe a product to someone, but you don’t know the proper terminology to use? You could go with the closest English equivalent, or you could use a term from the target audience’s own language, even if it doesn’t necessarily relate to the product’s function. This can lead to misunderstandings and lost sales.

The issue is that there are so many terms that could be used to describe a product, and it can be hard to know which one(s) to choose. Some industries have set rules and regulations around what terms should and shouldn’t be used to describe a certain type of product. Other industries haven’t, which means that there is no clear-cut answer as to what terms should be used when describing a particular product.

This article is going to go over some of the most common terms that are used incorrectly, and how you can properly use them to describe a product. Keep reading for more information.

Sale

Sale is used to describe a range of products that are no longer sold at retail prices. This could include discontinued products, heavily discounted products that are no longer on sale, or products that have been given away for free (such as those included in a newspaper or magazine subscription).

When used to describe a product, the term “sale” can lead to some confusion. For example, people may assume that you are referring to the actual sale of the product, rather than the process of discounting the product’s price. This can lead to misunderstandings and accusations of deception when describing your company’s product offers to potential customers. So, unless you are referring to the final sale of a product, it is best to avoid using the term “sale” when describing your company’s offerings.

Retail

You may have seen or heard the term “retail,” which is used to describe the store where the product is bought. This could be in-store, in-person, at a retail outlet, or online through an e-commerce website. When used to describe a product, the term “retail” can be somewhat confusing. For example, people may assume that you are referring to the store where the product is sold, rather than the product itself. This can lead to misunderstandings and accusations of deception when describing your company’s product offers to potential customers. So, unless you are referring to the retail store where the product is sold, it is best to avoid using the term “retail” when describing your company’s offerings.

Resell

Like “retail,” the term “resell” is often incorrectly used to describe products that are bought and then resold at a profit. This could include products that are returned and then resold, discounted products that are no longer on sale, or products that are given away for free but later bought and resold. When used to describe products, the term “resell” can be somewhat similar to “sale,” in that it can lead to some confusion around what the term actually means.

In some cases, people may assume that you are referring to the reselling of a product, rather than the product’s initial purchase. As with “sale,” this can lead to some degree of misunderstanding and accusations of deception when describing your company’s product offers to potential customers. So, unless you are referring to the initial purchase of a product and subsequent resale, it is best to avoid using the term “resell” when describing your company’s offerings.

Bought

Some companies, particularly those in the technology industry, will often describe a product as ‘bought’ to indicate that it has been previously owned and then resold at a profit. For example, people in the technology industry may use the term to describe products that are returned and then sold at a discounted price, or products that are given away for free but are then bought and resold at a profit. When used to describe products, the term “bought” can be somewhat similar to “sale” and “retail,” in that it can lead to some confusion around what the term actually means.

In some cases, people may assume that you are referring to the product’s previous owner, rather than the product itself. This can lead to misunderstandings and accusations of deception when describing your company’s product offers to potential customers. So, unless you are specifically referring to a product that has been owned and then subsequently resold at a profit, it is best to avoid using the term “bought” when describing your company’s offerings.

New

New is often used to describe something that is in a state or condition of readiness or inexperience. For example, you could say that a product is “new” to describe how recently it was developed or designed, or how it has yet to experience a significant amount of use. When used to describe products, the term “new” can be somewhat synonymous with “brand-new,” which indicates that the product has been manufactured or built entirely within the past year.

When used to describe a product, the term “new” can be somewhat confusing. In some cases, people may think that you are referring to a recently developed version of a product, rather than the product itself.

In other cases, people may assume that you are referring to the product’s previous owner, rather than the product itself. This can lead to misunderstandings and accusations of deception when describing your company’s product offers to potential customers. So, unless you are specifically referring to a product that is brand-new and in a state of readiness or inexperience, it is best to avoid using the term “new” when describing your company’s offerings.

These terms and many more are used incorrectly, and in some cases, they can cause confusion when describing a product. As a businessperson or marketer, it is important that you are aware of what terms mean, and how to properly use them to describe a product or service. By choosing your terms wisely and accurately, you can ensure that your potential customers understand what you are trying to say, and misinterpretations and accusations of deception do not arise.