Lonestar49
Member
Using old wall - talk
How can we fix this..?
1. FT>E
2. FT<E
3. FT^F
4. FT+F
Simple hieroglyphics..
Ls
...
How can we fix this..?
1. FT>E
2. FT<E
3. FT^F
4. FT+F
Simple hieroglyphics..
Ls
Gun Grammar
- Thread starter GLOOB
- Start date
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buck460XVR
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Yeah....my pet peeve concerning gun grammar is having to put up with English lessons on a gun forum.
I don't come here to learn about the English language, I come here to glean information about guns and ammo, and to ask people knowledgeable about firearms questions . When those gun savvy folk answer, I could care less about their grammar and spelling. If the info is correct and I comprehend what they are trying to convey, I'm happy. I don't remember seeing anything in the rules that states one must be a English Major to post, and I myself have better things to do than ridicule other folks grammatical errors while making them myself.
In the forum rules, it states that all posts must be firearm or RKBA related. Being about grammar and spelling, I do not believe this thread complies.
Old krow
Member
I believe that the plural of FTE is FTEs. It is being used as an acronym and the plural of that acronym is FTEs. The most common definition of an acronym is; a word formed from the initial letters... The expansion of that acronym in plural form would be "failures to eject", but, in it's acronym form (a word) the plural would be FTEs. Whether or not it should be an acronym is an entirely different matter.
I suppose if the idea of written communication is to actually communicate then all is well, provided that we each know what the other is saying. It's fair to say that our grammar does in some way speak for us. On the other hand, if we ostracize everyone that doesn't have impeccable grammar how big can our little RKBA club possibly be?
Just to stay in the spirit of the thread, I left the apostrophe Nazi's two wide open targets in my post about why we really don't need grammar police all the while correcting grammar.
I suppose if the idea of written communication is to actually communicate then all is well, provided that we each know what the other is saying. It's fair to say that our grammar does in some way speak for us. On the other hand, if we ostracize everyone that doesn't have impeccable grammar how big can our little RKBA club possibly be?
Just to stay in the spirit of the thread, I left the apostrophe Nazi's two wide open targets in my post about why we really don't need grammar police all the while correcting grammar.
Just to clarify a point made earlier the " Guns " on Navy Ships are NAVAL RIFLES, cannons are smooth bore, 3",5",6",8" and 16" were rifled tubes/barrels. Cal. is Bore x Length of tube/barrel ie. 5" 50 cal.= 5" bore 250" long "barrel". Larger Rifles had replacable rifled liners ( ie. 16" )
Robert Wilson
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- 402
That was therapeutic, thanks. Any semicolon Nazis out there?
oneounceload
member
And in many parts the terms "guns" refers to the shooters at a driven bird shoot, as they shoot guns, not rifles. If you look at H&H and others, they market themselves as "Makers of Bespoke Guns and Rifles".............
FTF also means Face to Face
Shotty is one letter less than shotgun...is it really that hard to use the term shotgun?
"Caliber" and "cartridge" are probably misused more than mag/clip
FTF also means Face to Face
Shotty is one letter less than shotgun...is it really that hard to use the term shotgun?
"Caliber" and "cartridge" are probably misused more than mag/clip
Expert linguists make a distinction between words like "FBI" and "DARE." The type you pronounce as a word, like scuba or laser, is an acronym. The type you read out as a string of letters, like "FTE," is an initialism.
Now, this comment here is rather important:
Massive disagreement here. When somebody says something about firearms, offers some kind of information about them, you have to ascertain how reliable and trustworthy that datum is. There are a few ways to do that.
You might take into account how long the person has posted, how reliable they have been in the past, etc. Failing that, the person's literacy is a gauge of believability. Say you ask a question like, "I'm thinking of getting a Ruger MKII or MKIII. Is one better than the other?" And you get this in response:
Well, I don't know about you, but I'd take that remark as coming from a complete idiot and would ignore it. Even if it were true, I'd have to assume that the writer was a mouth-breathing dingbat and would need confirmation from someone who can write in English.
This doesn't mean that every comment here has to be made in impeccable English. Internet communications are often made at speed, and there are lots of jokes that revolve around common errors like "teh" and "pwned," etc. Still, writers ought to make some effort at spelling and punctuation, some minimal attempt, however meager.
KodiakBeer
member
I used to manage a small gun store. When people were confused about basic terminology like mags vs clips, I couldn't help but change how I treated them. You have to assume they're newbies and approach things on a more basic level or you're not really serving their needs.
In fact, I would argue that there is a direct correlation between bad terminology and bad gun handling skills. Invariably, it was the "clip" guy who picked up a handgun with his finger on the trigger and then pointed it at my chest. There were/are plenty of exceptions to that rule, but in general if you walk into a gun shop and ask for a box of "bullets" and an extra "clip" for your Glock, you can expect to be treated differently than people who appear to know what they're talking about.
Surely, somebody will complain about the know-it-all gun store clerk, but it's not about that. It's about trying to serve a client by fitting the tools and instruction to his skill level.
In fact, I would argue that there is a direct correlation between bad terminology and bad gun handling skills. Invariably, it was the "clip" guy who picked up a handgun with his finger on the trigger and then pointed it at my chest. There were/are plenty of exceptions to that rule, but in general if you walk into a gun shop and ask for a box of "bullets" and an extra "clip" for your Glock, you can expect to be treated differently than people who appear to know what they're talking about.
Surely, somebody will complain about the know-it-all gun store clerk, but it's not about that. It's about trying to serve a client by fitting the tools and instruction to his skill level.
lack of capitalization lack of punctuation run on type texting moron teenage idiot sentences especially when filled with acronyms or initialisms or whatever the hell you want to call them 
I can't believe you guys have spent 3 pages debating this!
FTE or FTE - If it didn't extract, it probably didn't eject, so technically it is still correct at that point regardless. If in doubt; ask! If you don't want to raise doubt; type it out!
FTF or FTF or FTF - If it failed to feed, then it probably failed to fire, and if it failed to function in either way when you were face to face with a grizzly, it'd be BS, like much of this thread!
It's been my experience that most folks use acronyms, or initialisms if you prefer, in attempt to sound like they know more about the topic being discussed than they actually do, or when trying to sound like they are simply too busy and don't have time to type out the full answer. Unfortunately these attempts at establishing importance fail miserably unless your importance or intelligence has been previously established. :banghead:
I can't believe you guys have spent 3 pages debating this!
FTE or FTE - If it didn't extract, it probably didn't eject, so technically it is still correct at that point regardless. If in doubt; ask! If you don't want to raise doubt; type it out!
FTF or FTF or FTF - If it failed to feed, then it probably failed to fire, and if it failed to function in either way when you were face to face with a grizzly, it'd be BS, like much of this thread!
It's been my experience that most folks use acronyms, or initialisms if you prefer, in attempt to sound like they know more about the topic being discussed than they actually do, or when trying to sound like they are simply too busy and don't have time to type out the full answer. Unfortunately these attempts at establishing importance fail miserably unless your importance or intelligence has been previously established. :banghead:
JohnBT
Member
"a video the other day where the guy kept saying "failure-to-eject's." "
Aren't you expecting a lot from a guy shooting a Glock. :banghead:
Aren't you expecting a lot from a guy shooting a Glock. :banghead:
The problem is that if someone brings up an FTE or an FTF, it's often because he has a gun that is doing that and he wants some advice about how to fix it. But how to fix a failure to extract will be different from how to fix a gun that extracts but doesn't eject, etc.rocky1 said:
So you're right: "If you don't want to raise doubt; type it out!"
bottom shelf
Member
Wow! What a fun thread. I'm getting really old and dotering now, so very little of it bothers me at all as long as I can understand the meaning, nome sane?
But I do agree with this:
I don't know why I find those two infractions so annoying, but I do.
But I do agree with this:
I don't know why I find those two infractions so annoying, but I do.
the word "clip" is used in place of magazine for various reasons. Mostly, because people just don't care, everyone knows what they mean. Another reason is that is all they have ever called it, ever listen to a WW2 vet, no matter what they have, it has a clip. Every gun maker calls it a magazine clip. It is said to irritate the anal retentive purists who have nothing better to do with their lives than get mad and correct people, a common trait among the older generations. It's faster and easier to spell. Words change their definition over time or have added new meanings, lots of words have done it, fag, hot, cool, down low.
What is really funny to listen to is on shotgunworld.com, full of elitists, is when someone uses the term "shotty" instead of shotgun. I read one post where a person wanted to know how to best soup up his 870 "shotty". 5 pages later he asked his account to be deleted because so many rude people were calling him names and insulting him and saying they would not answer any question when someone used the term "shotty". They might have been less angry if the person had insulted the purity of their daughter.
About the only term that bugs me, but I rarely say anything about it, is "assault weapon" when defining a firearm.
What is really funny to listen to is on shotgunworld.com, full of elitists, is when someone uses the term "shotty" instead of shotgun. I read one post where a person wanted to know how to best soup up his 870 "shotty". 5 pages later he asked his account to be deleted because so many rude people were calling him names and insulting him and saying they would not answer any question when someone used the term "shotty". They might have been less angry if the person had insulted the purity of their daughter.
About the only term that bugs me, but I rarely say anything about it, is "assault weapon" when defining a firearm.
writerinmo
Member
"Tactical" is the one that gets me chuckling sometimes.
I don't know if anyone else enjoyed this, but I did...but then English is my second languageJohn Wayne said:
I actually have an ulterior motive for using the term Slide Stop...I'm trying to remind folks, when teaching, not to use it as a slide release
Another thing that has already come up twice in this thread is the phrase I could care less...it isn't that you could, it should be that you couldn't
Really? Care to provide some examples? But "every"?Dookie said:
On the other hand, the Chinese say that the first step toward wisdom is calling things by their right names. And intentionally using incorrect terminology in more formal communication in a varied audience including strangers and persons from different places and background shows not only ignorance, but also laziness and disrespect.Dookie said:
I also would take more seriously someone using proper, standard English and correct terminology. A gratuitous use of incorrect terminology when discussing a serious topic tells me the speaker cares less about communicating information, and more about creating an impression of rebelliousness, edginess and insouciance.
Sure, a lot of times folks get casual about terminology. Sometimes it results in confusion or misunderstanding, and sometimes it doesn't. There may also be times where casual terminology is just fine, and times when it's not such a good idea. But it's always nice to know and understand correct terminology so that at least you can exercise some reasonably judgment about when to use it.
KodiakBeer
member
Mag - clip. Nope, mag is faster and easier to spell.
I get all of this, a duck is a duck so call it a duck not a cow. One thing that all the people that like to jump on folks when the call something the wrong thing, like calling a clip a magazine. Not all of us have grown up around guns. I shot my first gun this year and I am 30. I am learning as I go, that is why I am on here and other forums.
I can tell you if I call something the wrong thing and someone corrects me that is great, that's why I am here. If someone flames me for calling something the wrong thing. I don't even read the rest of the <edit> post. Not everyone one is perfect like some people think they are.
Just $0.02 from a newbie.
I can tell you if I call something the wrong thing and someone corrects me that is great, that's why I am here. If someone flames me for calling something the wrong thing. I don't even read the rest of the <edit> post. Not everyone one is perfect like some people think they are.
Just $0.02 from a newbie.
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Old krow
Member
In college I argued that exact point once. As I remember, I didn't win. It had something to do with the probability of actually not caring less than something, but still assigning worth to it that wasn't assigned to everything that you did care more for. In other words, one statement has little to no meaning (could) and the other almost has to be false (couldn't). I am not entirely sure about the explanation that I recieved, but, he was the one grading the papers.
I still say couldn't care less. And in this case it holds true.
I wonder if it safer to speak of English on a gun forum or of guns in an English class?
On the other hand, even if we lose all of our BORs we'll at least be able to complain about it in a manner that everyone will understand.
Maybe not every, but a large amount. Marlin and Savage are two that come to mind.
Proving my point on anal retentiveness
Standard or proper English is actually the Queens English. We speak American English, which is a large part of multiple other languages and a TON of slang. We don't really even speak proper English.I like how you say that a person with a strong localized dialect should not be considered as intelligent as a person who speaks "proper" English. I think that pretty much insults everyone in N. America who does not live in SW Canada and NW United States. But as you are a person who lives in California, I expect you are used to feeling superior with your excellent language skills, dude. Oh, did I just make a comment on how Californians speak. I guess your localized dialect makes you sound less intelligent and therefor should not be listened to.
Kind of dumb huh.
Sadly enough, I have seen people get corrected on that also. I generally use mag myself for that very reason, it's easiest.
Don't fret, it only makes you age faster.
Really? What give you that idea? In fact, there is standard American English as well, and that is proper in the United States.Dookie said:
No more so than any other language. All languages, including British English have "a ton of slang", but educated speakers of any language manage to convey their thoughts in more formal, less casual, settings without the use of slang.Dookie said:
And exactly where did I say that? But I have worked with and done business with folks from all parts of the country. They may well pepper their speech with local idiom when in casual conversation in their communities, but they also use more formal patterns of speech in less casual situations.Dookie said:
It's a matter of being able to choose the manner of speech and use of language appropriate to the circumstances and the audience.
k4swb
Member
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- Sep 23, 2010
- Messages
- 439
Bullets vs cartridges has always bothered me. I sort of worked in a gun/reloading shop for awhile and if the customer asked for bullets for a 45, I gave him bullets but most of the time he really wanted cartridges or ammo.
When I started reading gun forums it took me a minute or two to realize what the "head" of a bullet was. I finally figured the "head" was the bullet and the bullet was a cartrige.
If I run upon a post and the poster says "boolit" I don't even bother to go further.
I've almost gotten to the point to where I can overlook misspelled words because I have typos all the time. No capitals or punctuation marks do really make things hard to read.
I've noticed that iespell can be installed for a spell check in the forums. Anyone use it and does it work?
When I started reading gun forums it took me a minute or two to realize what the "head" of a bullet was. I finally figured the "head" was the bullet and the bullet was a cartrige.
If I run upon a post and the poster says "boolit" I don't even bother to go further.
I've almost gotten to the point to where I can overlook misspelled words because I have typos all the time. No capitals or punctuation marks do really make things hard to read.
I've noticed that iespell can be installed for a spell check in the forums. Anyone use it and does it work?
Robert Wilson
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Goodonya. I've always been irritated by the clerk who responds to my request for bullets by lecturing me on the difference between bullets and cartridges. Normally I respond with "Great! Can I have some bullets now?"
That might be a mistake on your part. "Boolit" is a term that originated (I think) at the cast bullet forums, and is meant in regard to cast bullets. Chances are that a
poster using the word "boolit" knows more about bullet casting and handloading than the average bear.
k4swb
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I usually just gave them what they asked for and let them then tell me what they really wanted. After a few trips, they figured out what to ask for correctly.
First time I see a bullet mould from the manufacturers labeled "boolit mould" I'll start taking the term seriously. Until then I still prefer bullet(s), cast or otherwise.
I'm also going to add this. I too used the incorrect terms before someone educated me. I realized that knowing the correct names for things went a long way to insure you recieve what you really want instead of something else.
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