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Am I the only person on EPZ who can't abide the word 'tog'? Where did it come from? It sounds as if someone has sat down one day to try to dream up a word that will give people a semi-exclusive language. Why not 'phots' or 'graphs' in that case? Just as ludicrous and irritating. The other day I saw a new member on another thread asking 'what is a tog?'. It clearly isn't in widespread use. I'd never heard it before I joined. It's not used in books or magazines (those that I see). I'm a beginner in photography but work in newspapers and in the industry photographers are universally referred to as 'snappers'. Some of them are 'paps' and if you want to be rude you can call them 'monkeys', but never, ever 'togs'. Whoever heard of Robert Capa being referred to as a 'war tog'? Or Henri Cartier-Bresson as the 'famous Parisian tog'? A tog, for those who don't know, is an efficiency rating for duvets. Let's stop using it. For tog's sake...
I can't say I'm particularly keen on the term either, James. However, it doesn't bother me all that much.
I would assume 'tog' was was picked out because it's the syllable which tends to receive the most emphasis.
I've always thought 'shrooms was more clumsy to say than mushrooms, too, but it was pretty widespread on ePz not so long ago.
I have only come to use it in posting or emails, but as it appears to cause such concern, I shall endeavour to refrain.
When referring to a photographer, I shall refer the photographer as a photography and not by any truncated versions of the word photographer.
oops sorry, I currently have an expression indicating my current demeanour, that being, happy or pleased. 
try typing
"tog"
ok - pretty quick
now type
"photographer"
took a lot longer eh?
THAT's why people use "tog"
simple really
An old fashioned civil servant would never use one syllable where three would do. But this is the internet.
And I hate "snapper", its so degrading.
I don't really mind to be honest, snapper is the usual term in newspapers as James says, and if we're off to do a snatch or celeb sort of job then we generally say we're going to 'pap em off'.
It's just an abbreviation, unlike (say) monkeys which is clearly a derogatory term which I don't like.
I have no problems with tog or snapper but call me a pap and you'll get me 70-200 round yer lug 'ole 
Quote: I touch-type (in a style entirely my own), so it probably doesn't take more than a second longer to type "photographer" than it would to type "tog".
that's a lifetime!!!!
Yes.
And '4', 'U', 'Gr8' and all other 'textlish' phrases when used in situations other than for 'texting'.
It's sheer laziness, especially when used on roadside advertising placards which are in place for months, as the time saved is irrelevant when compared to the life of the advert.
I don't mind it - it just another bit of slang for 'person' in my mind. Although I agree that texting and the net may reduce the quality of english usage, I don't see it as laziness - but as a method to increase speed an attempt to retain spontaniety. Hence I don't bother spell checking my posts... this is supposed to be a bit of fun.
But just to wind up others - TOG also means 'Terry's Old Gezziers' and yes that does refer to Terry Wogan.
Adam
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