| Comment | Because it's technical vs vernacular use. The vernacular use of 'machine gun', includes pretty much anything that can fire multiple bullets at a time, which might be technically incorrect, but everyone understands what is meant. Nobody actually thinks OP meant a team of steel-clad robocops with Gatlings in tow
Similarly, in my field it's very wrong to call electricity transmission towers 'pylons' because that refers to a solid rather than latticed structure. Do I go round correcting everyone who calls them pylons? No, because everyone understands what is meant even if it's the incorrect technical term |
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