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Shooting terminology - or rather, incorrect shooting terminology


JonathanL
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Thought you'd appreciate this appaling example from a recent thread:

 

 

 

Ok, this will probably **** off loads of people and will doubtless get me accused (again) of being a pointless pedant, but here goes.

 

Over the past couple of years or so, I've noticed an ever increasing trend towards the incorrect and confusing use of terminology among many shooters. The classic, of course, is the use of the term 'heads' or 'bullet heads' in reference to bullets. That has been widepread for a long time with even RFD's using it in their adverts in shooting mags. It's even used in trade price lists. I was talking to a guy yesterday who said he'd recently heard it used by a regional head of a large shooting sports organisation .

 

 

Ok
[OK is usually written as an abbreviation (in capitals)]
-
[although the dash would suffice, I feel a comma starts the piece off a little less abruptly]
this will probably **** off loads of people and will doubtless get me accused (again) of being a pointeless
[pointless]
pedant but,
[place the comma before the word but to prevent the previous clause ending in a preposition]
here goes.

 

Over the past couple of years or so
[insert
comma]
I've noticed an ever increasing trend towards
[insert
the
]
incorrect and confusing use of terminology among many shooters. The classic, of course, is the use of the term 'heads' or 'bullet heads' in reference to bullets. That has been widepread for a long time with even RFD's [there is no need for an apostrophe when pluralising initialisms or acronyms where its use doesn't leave things ambiguous] using it in their adverts in the
[the use of
the
here is superfluous]
shooting mags. It's even used in trade price lists. I was talking to a guy yesterday who said he'd heard it used by a regional head of a large shooting sports organisation recently
[place adjectives next to the applicable word]
.

 

People may accuse me of pedantry, but I do think that the incorrect use of language can often make some shooters appear a bit thick :smartass:.

 

Caveat

My version may not even be deemed correct by some, but isn't that the point? English like all language is constantly evolving. We can all try to better ourselves and improve our communication skills, but the alternative is not to communicate at all. I really don't think we want that. I suggest that you police the web and point out every mistake you find. I'm sure you'll achieve inner peace by doing that. I know I have.

 

Oh, and by the way, I won't be available for responses as I'm going out on the pidgons with my 12 gage Lamber wareing camelflage.

 

luv it. :good: :good: :good: :good:

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