• Drew@sopuli.xyz
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          15 hours ago

          Gasoline is called petrol outside of the US. It is a distinct word from petroleum.

          • merc@sh.itjust.works
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            14 hours ago

            I’m aware that British people think it’s called petrol, but you’re mistaken if you think that it’s only the US that calls it Gasoline. That’s the term used for most of the English-speaking Americas, including Canada and many former British colonies like Bermuda and the Bahamas. In fact, if you include Latin America’s “gasolina” it’s almost the entire Americas. And if you include variants on that name you’ll also have to include Japan and Korea. In fact, “gasoline” has even invaded the British isles. Variations of “gasoline” are sometimes used in Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish.

            But, anyhow, my point was more that “gas isn’t even a gas” is as dumb as “petrol isn’t even petroleum”. “Gas” is just a short form for “gasoline”, nobody’s suggesting it’s in a gaseous state, just like nobody is suggesting that petrol is literally just a short form of petroleum, despite the obvious similarity of the words. This is English, the language where “read” and “read” are two different words pronounced differently. It’s no major issue to have “gas” be a short form of gasoline as well as being a state of matter, though it does sound funny if you say something like “gas is a liquid”.

            • FiskFisk33@startrek.website
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              12 hours ago

              This is English, the language where “read” and “read” are two different words pronounced differently.

              rofl

              I’ll be saving that one

          • RedditRefugee69@lemmynsfw.com
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            22 hours ago

            As if cutting letters and syllables from words to make then more efficient isn’t a tradition as old as words, innit?

            But adding an invisible consonant? That’s insane.

            • someguy3@lemmy.world
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              22 hours ago

              It’s not because of efficiency or whatever you’re trying to say, military ranks especially have a long history of weirdness and changes in languages, pronunciation, and spelling. All not all 3 being in line.

              Like wow it’s ok to not know these things, but you shouldn’t act all holier than thou. Ciao.