Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 16:32:52 -0500

From: Jerry Miller millerj[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]FRANKLINCOLL.EDU

Subject: Re: Pop & Soda



went up to one of those traveling deli carts to buy something to drink.

On the sign it said: Can of pop -- 50 cents. Soda -- 75 cents. I asked

the guy what the difference was between "pop" and "soda" and he looked at

me like I'd lost my mind. So what is the difference?



I wish you had asked him to show them both to you. The words are

interchangable in the western states I've lived in.



My experience here in Indiana is that the two terms are interchangable, with

"pop" far more common than "soda" (the only person I can remember who always

said "soda" was an old news editor of mine). I think the distinction on the

sign you saw may be between "pop" (as in Coca-Cola, 7-Up, etc.) and "soda"

(the "yuppie" drinks like "New York Seltzer," etc.), but I could be wrong.



Jerry Miller