When you’re near the coast and someone points and says “Hey, look at that big boat”, do you also feel the need to point out that the vessel in question is actually a ship since it’s gross tonnage is actually above 500?
Sure, words have meanings, but you can also be a little lenient in everyday conversation. You get what they’re saying, don’t you?
So if there were two vessels and someone said “Look at that big boat”, you’d assume they meant the smaller one because the other was a ship?
Likewise, if someone said “America has a gun problem”, you’re going to assume they mean every single country in both north and south America as a collective?
To be fair, the EU doesn’t include all countries in Europe. But honestly, if you hear that “Europe” does something, do you really think that this doesn’t mean the EU?
If someone referenced “America” to me, I’d assume they meant the US and not go “Well, akchually…”
The European Union and Europe are not the same thing.
Just like America and the USA are not the same thing.
The European Economic Area and the European Union are not the same thing.
Correct! Neither is the EFTA zone and the Schengen zone
America is a continent. United States OF America is an unoriginal country name.
Exactly!
Technically correct and relevant are not the same thing.
Technically correct, but in everyday conversation most people will get what you mean anyway I think.
Why speak incorrectly when we can just speak correctly? Words have meanings.
When you’re near the coast and someone points and says “Hey, look at that big boat”, do you also feel the need to point out that the vessel in question is actually a ship since it’s gross tonnage is actually above 500?
Sure, words have meanings, but you can also be a little lenient in everyday conversation. You get what they’re saying, don’t you?
If there is only one vessel, there is no need to disambiguate - the person adressed by the statement cannot misunderstand it.
If there are two vessels in the area pointed at, one large and one small, yes I will say ship for the large one and boat for the small one.
So if there were two vessels and someone said “Look at that big boat”, you’d assume they meant the smaller one because the other was a ship?
Likewise, if someone said “America has a gun problem”, you’re going to assume they mean every single country in both north and south America as a collective?
Seriously?
No, I won’t assume, I will ask a clarifying question
I don’t really know, without reading the article, what they mean by “Europe.”
What other entity in Europe could collectively decide to approve something? I mean, it’s not 100% ambiguous, but I think it’s pretty safe guess.
I dunno. I’m not European, but my first guess would be it’s some organization under the EU? But then that wouldn’t include all countries in Europe.
To be fair, the EU doesn’t include all countries in Europe. But honestly, if you hear that “Europe” does something, do you really think that this doesn’t mean the EU?
If someone referenced “America” to me, I’d assume they meant the US and not go “Well, akchually…”
I wouldn’t think that about America because those idiots stole the name.