Without even realizing it, ordinary people are influenced by the media's advertisement everyday. Advertisers have different approaches of persuading individuals to buy their product. "The Language of Advertising Claims," by Jeffrey Schrank, lists ten different types of claims that advertisers use to give their product a false impression of supremacy. To convince consumers of the product's superiority, Rembrandt's Toothpaste advertisement bombards them with claims such as the Weasel Claim and the "We"re Different and Unique" Claim, while Cover Girl's Triple Mascara advertisement uses "So What" Claim and also the "We"re Different and Unique" Claim.
Rembrandt is promoting its new toothpaste using the Weasel Claim and the "We"re Different and Unique" Claim. According to Schrank, "a weasel word is a modifier that practically negates the claim that follows. Words or claims that appear substantial upon first look but disintegrate into hollow meaninglessness on analysis are weasels" (185). First of all, the ad's background is entirely solid navy blue. Across the top of this advertisement is a headline in bold white letters that reads: "Unsurpassed Whitening." In the center of the page, bright rays of light shine from the Rembrandt container in a star like pattern. Written on the container, in addition to the name of the product, are six different qualities this toothpaste has to offer. One of them reads: "Fights Cavities." This is a perfect example of the infamous Weasel claim. "Fights" is a commonly used weasel word, says Schrank (185). The fact that it "fights" cavities means absolutely nothing. This advertisement also presents a second claim, the "We"re Different and Unique" Claim. Schrank defines this kind of claim as one that "states that there is nothing else quite like the product advertised. The uniqueness claim is supposed to be interpreted by readers as a claim to superiority" (186). There are several samples of this claim in the ad.
