A Slurpee and a Slushie are not the same. While there are some similarities, there are also some big differences. Some people call a Slurpee a slushie and a slushie a Slurpee, and there have been many debates about what to call the treats. Some say it doesn't matter what you call them as long as you enjoy them.

Similarities

Both are made with frozen ice and a sugary beverage that come in many different flavors. The ice is the same, but the flavors are different. While they are both popular on the hot days of summers, the icy drinks are available in the stores all year long.

Both of the drinks are named after the sound a person makes while drinking or eating it. The slurpy sound is made while drinking a Slurpee through a straw. The ice crystals in a slushie (also spelled slushy) are eaten with a spoon.

Differences

A quick lesson is to remember that a Slurpee is a brand name that is sold only at 7- Eleven. It always starts with a capital letter. The 7-Eleven store gives away a Slurpee every year on National 7-Eleven Day on July 11 to celebrate its anniversary. This year is the store's 90th anniversary. The convenience store is the only establishment that can sell or give away Slurpees because the frozen drink is a 7-Eleven commodity and cannot be found in any other store.

Brand names

While Slurpee is a brand name, a slushie is a general name and can be purchased at any store or made at home. You cannot make a Slurpee at home. To further explain the difference in a brand name and a general name is to give three well-known examples. Every tissue is not a Kleenex, but people ask for a Kleenex all the time so they can blow their nose.

Every tissue is not a Kleenex, but every Kleenex is a tissue. You can always tell a brand name because the first letter is capitalized.

Another example is that every copier is not a Xerox. You hear it around the office all the time when people want to use the copier, which in most cases, is not a Xerox machine. The same point is that every pill for a headache is not a Tylenol.

The aspirin could be another brand.

To summarize, a Slurpee is a brand name sold only at 7-Eleven. A slushie can be sold at Wawa or made at home. The word "Slurpee" should always start with a capital "S." It is usually consumed by using a straw and the sound that is heard is a slurp.

The bottom line is that no matter what you call the treats, pick up a free Slurpee on July 11 from any 7-Eleven to help the convenience store celebrate its birthday.