I tend to use these terms interchangeably, do you?

OED has:

quote:

brochure: [Fr.; lit. ‘a stitched work’, f. brocher to stitch: see -URE.]

A short printed work, of a few leaves merely stitched together; a pamphlet. Also, spec. a small pamphlet or booklet describing the amenities of a place, etc.


pamphlet seems to mean about the same thing, but has a MUCH longer definition . . .

there's other words meaning about the same thing: handout, leaflet . .. are there more?

(Does anyone else have trouble concentrating during meetings at work after a word question like this pops into their head? I want you all to know that I blame you for this!)

I tend to use brochure, leaflet and pamphlet more or less interchangeably. Flyer isn't really used here and handout I only associate with printed notes that I give to students in my class.

The definition given makes it clear that they are not interchangeable. A brochure is stiched - usually with wire staples - whereas a leaflet is simply a sheet of paper. A pamphlet is usually a folded piece of paper but could also be a brochure (if is it of several pages and stiched).

A flyer is simply a promotional document which could be a leaflet, pamphlet or even brochure that has been sent out "to fly". That is, to be seen by many potential customers as it wings its way about the delivery system.

The travel industry tends to use the term "brochure" for any piece of promotional literature, regardless of its size or binding style. As a purist I prefer to use the term catalogue - but most travel people don't understand it!

quote:

(Does anyone else have trouble concentrating during meetings at work after a word question like this pops into their head? I want you all to know that I blame you for this!)

Oh...yes! I have written some of my best OEDILF limericks during really boring lectures at conventions. And sometimes I am the instigator of off-the-subject word discussions. In one of our meetings, I used the word "balderdash," and my boss said she hadn't heard that word used very often. Suddenly we were discussing favorite words of everyone, and of course "epicaricacy" came up. It was great fun...until the inevitable, "Let's move on!"

I usually use pamphlet and brochure interchangeably, but I, too, think of leaflet as a sheet of paper. Handouts to me, like Bob, are notes given to students or attendees at conferences. Flyers are more like leaflets to me.

I suppose booklet, handbill, bulletin, and circular could also be thrown in there.

It's on a bit of a tangent, but tract is similar

Wow...I looked it up and you are right. I have never heard 'tract' used that way. I think of 'tract' as meaning 'an expanse of land or water, especially land.' Interesting!