this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2023
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NonCredibleDefense

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[–] [email protected] 108 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

For those who don't know, A 5 inch gun refers to the bore. Its shoots a projectile 5 inches in diameter. Its fucking massive.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Yeah a shell the width of a *toothbrush-stood-on-end will make some big holes.

Edit: for the people.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Still poorly worded lol. When you say the width of a toothbrush, I think the width of it, not the length

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 years ago (2 children)

It's extremely poorly worded, as the word weapon is not the same as the word shell or ammunition. In fact, that's why we have separate words for both. I'd have thought people with English degrees (journalists still need education right?) would know these things.

But I'm not a journalist, so I guess they know best right? 😅

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I mean, certainly that can't be an intentional choice. That would violate the entire oath of journalism. The people rely on them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

How is it poorly worded? You refer to guns by their bore size.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

If it confused a bunch of people, I'd say it's poorly worded. "A gun the length of a toothbrush" made me think of a small pistol not a cannon.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

That's because british journalists are incredibly stupid. Industry standard is to refer to weapons by their bore–you don't call a Glock 19 a 185mm handgun, after all.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago

Well that's not length then is it. That's poor journalism

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago

And in the context of naval guns, 5in isn't even that big.