Converting proper nouns

There are many cases where you can use the indefinite article, and by extension the definite article, with what appear to be proper nouns. In fact, what is happening is that these nouns are being used as common nouns instead of proper nouns, even though the capital letter remains. With converted proper nouns you can talk about particular instances using the definite or indefinite articles; the noun can also be plural.

There are a number of predictable ways in which you use converted proper nouns. You use a converted proper noun:

• when you want to suggest that someone or something is similar to someone or something famous: 'She's a proper Shakespeare', 'the buying power of an IBM'.

He is a Don Juan.

• when you are talking about a copy or instance of something, especially a newspaper or magazine: 'a Times' means 'a copy of the Times'.

He bought a Daily Mirror and returned to his place.

• when you are referring to a product or a work by someone, for example a car produced by a particular manufacturer, or a painting by a famous painter.

She has a laptop. It’s a Sony.

Sometimes a trademark for a product is used for all products of the same kind. For example, many people would call any vacuum cleaner a 'Hoover', though 'Hoover' is a trademark for one particular make.

• when you want to talk about one branch of a shop or business.

...to make room for the new Macy's.

• when you want to pick out a particular 'version' of something: 'This isn't the London I used to know'.