Talk:Misnomer

Is the list really neccesary?

Wouldn't this article be much better set up as a description of different types of misnomers with a few well-known or easy to grasp examples for each (ex: Kleenez, Panama hat, koala bear)? -- TRTX ^{T / C} 15:01, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

I think it is necessary, but needs trimming a lot (see discussions below), so that it would be what you describe (albeit longer) and not a list of everything anyone has every misunderstood a_boardley (talk) 17:30, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

I found the article very informative. On the other hand, I understand why some would think there were too many examples, if they don't find the examples fascinating in themselves, as I happen to. Perhaps the solution is to create a separate article called "List of mismomers." Jack 203.106.160.221 (talk) 12:50, 4 May 2013 (UTC)

Americas

Removed the America/United States of./The Americas bit. Between English speakers, America refers ONLY refers to the USA. A Guatemalan is not an American. A Guatemalan would be from ONE OF the AmericaS (note the THE and S). The Americas are not a single landmass, but two. The two continents are NOT America... they are THE AmericaS. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.255.26.135 (talk) 16:11, 16 May 2009‎

Indians

Indians are not so named because someone thought they reached India. This is wrong. Stop perpetuating this myth. He did not think he landed in India, he knew the world was round, and he knew he wasn't anywhere remotely close to where he wanted to be. I am removing the affected section. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 63.169.70.126 (talk) 13:50, 9 March 2009 (UTC)

If by "he" you refer to Columbus, your statements are not compatible with any source I know of. In particular, while Columbus (and many others) knew that the world was round, he was under the misimpression that the circumference was far shorter than it actually is. 94.220.254.157 (talk) 03:20, 3 March 2010 (UTC)

Columbus thought he had reached the Indies, or somewhere thereabouts, possibly Japan. (I think he changed his mind a few times about the exact location.) The Indies were the islands between Australia and the Malay Peninsula. Today it's mostly Indonesia, but also part of Malaysia, plus Brunei, East Timor, etc. At the times there were lots of people from India living there. They had arrived recently, maybe starting the time of the Romans. Originally they were communities of merchants. Their business involved spices and the Indian Ocean Trade Route. To this day, the Indonesian island of Bali is predominantly Hindu. I don't think Columbus ever gave up on the idea that he had discovered the Indies, but to his successors it was pretty obvious. Thus, the original Indies were renamed the East Indies while the ones Columbus discovered were called the West Indies. The difference between India and the (East) Indies is like the difference between England and New England. Two different places. Zyxwv99 (talk) 17:32, 22 December 2013 (UTC)

Some other misnomers

Here are some other misnomers that should be included as examples:

• American “Indian”
• “planetary” nebula
• “rare earth” element
• “tidal” wave

Guinea pig

I humbly suggest guinea pig as a good example of a misnomer. There is of course the argument that there are already many examples but the guinea pig is a very common pet and word and a readily recognizable word to cite as a misnomer, and possibly better than, for example, a Norway rat, which I've never even heard of. And in the case of guinea pig both words used in its formation are misnomers.

The possible entry, under "Association with place other than one might assume" could be "Guinea pig:If s are native to South America not Guinea (and for that matter not pigs but rodents).good FourTildes (talk) 23:15, 25 January 2015 (UTC)

I posted here for "consensus" as per protocol and got no response after over three weeks. I am moving forward with my suggestion. FourTildes (talk) 01:46, 21 February 2015 (UTC)

If you actually look at the hidden comment immediately below your edit, you will see that there is long-standing consensus that no new examples are to be added without consensus. This article is a crap magnet. Your example is an actual misnomer (unlike most of the hundreds of previous examples), but editors have pared down the examples to a few good ones. This article is not "List of misnomers"; it is about the idea of a misnomer with a few examples. If everyone adds his favorite example, the article becomes unmanageable. If you want to add your example again, please get consensus to do so here. It might help if you make the case that your example is better than the current ones. Sundayclose (talk) 01:36, 22 February 2015 (UTC)

I did "actually" look at hidden comment below my edit, which is exactly why I did actually come here and ask for a consensus, as per instructions in the hidden comment; which no one chimed in on (until now anyway). I never believed, meant nor implied this article was a list of misnomers. I don't have a favorite example when it comes to misnomers and I am well aware from my experience at wikipedia about how too many additions can dilute a good article. I do, however, believe guinea pig is a better example of many of the examples listed because it is a double misnomer, hence my nomination. If there are enough examples already, then I think guinea pig is a safe replacement for, say Norway Rat, which I've never even heard of; when I could guess most native speakers of English have heard of guinea pigs. Can I please have an attempt at consensus? One person coming in and undoing my addition after I finally made my edit because nobody bothered to reply is not a consensus.FourTildes (talk) 08:29, 22 February 2015 (UTC).

No one "chimed in until now" after you "finally made your edit"??? One day after you added the item against consensus and one day after you made your comment here. That's not much of a consensus discussion. One editor does not make a consensus. And you are currently "having your chance at consensus". So again, please wait to see if a consensus develops here before adding the item again. 107.15.192.226 (talk) 15:47, 22 February 2015 (UTC)