Posted by Bob on January 31, 2001 at 10:39:26:
In Reply to: This post is NOT hydrostatic testing related - don't read posted by Bill Johnson on January 31, 2001 at 09:35:48:
I like to use correct terms too, Bill (aka William). There's a difference though between using terms when being a stickler for accuracy is called for (like DOT documents) and in normal conversation. It's a matter of context.
The fact is that a LOT of people misuse terms every day. If you told evey one they were wrong and correcting them, you'd spend a lot of time oncorrections and very little on conversation. You'd also find few people would want to bother talking to you.
I have no idea how the term tank came to be used. Maybe it's because so many other tanks (like gas tank) store things and people thought of it as storing air (which it does).
It might be that given a choice of terms, the shorter one will often win out. The one syllable tank beat the 3 syllable cylinder for common usage.
Car beat automobile, xerox (a trademarked name) beat photocopy, Bill beat William, the list goes on. ;)