"And is the ® symbol a new version of "quote" marks in that when you see them, you automatically think that it doesn't mean what the words say?" Yeah, sweetie, it's true. That word is "Footlong" (one word) on PURPOSE so that you can't sue them for the fact that it doesn't mean "foot-long." I did a social science project on advertising at the age of 12, and the cynicism has stood me in good stead these last 30 years.