Is 'near miss' a misnomer?

[Master29]

Mod Note: Posts 1 - 4 were originally in this thread.

The words near miss are a misnomer. Surely near collision makes more sense?

 

[najaB]

The words near miss are a misnomer. Surely near collision makes more sense?

This comes up *all* the time on an aviation forum I frequent. Did it hit or miss? 'Miss'. Okay, how close was it? 'Near'...

Hence 'near miss'.

 

[richw]

The words near miss are a misnomer. Surely near collision makes more sense?

This comes up *all* the time on an aviation forum in frequent. Did it hit or miss? 'Miss'. Okay, how close was it? 'Near'...

Hence 'near miss'.

Near miss would mean it nearly missed, so if it nearly missed it didn't quite miss or just hit!

 

[najaB]

Near miss would mean it nearly missed, so if it nearly missed it didn't quite miss or just hit!

'Near' is *not* the same word as nearly.

Near is a positional proposition, nearly is an adjective.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Regardless - even if it's not grammatically correct (it is), it is an accepted common usage. End of discussion.

 

[AlterEgo]

"Near miss" doesn't mean "nearly a miss".

 

[PermitToTravel]

A miss that was near, not nearly a miss

 

[transmanche]

'Near' is *not* the same word as nearly.

Near is a positional proposition, nearly is an adjective.

<Mode=pedant>I believe it's an adverb, not an adjective</mode>

 

[pdeaves]

<Mode=pedant>I believe it's an adverb, not an adjective</mode>

Most people I work with now use 'close call' instead. Hopefully that removes any ambiguity (perceived or actual!).

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

I dislike Near Misses too.
I prefer Far Misses, much safer.

The term is often overused to include planes and a drone (likely a carrier bag) 100 metres away.
I'd use the Just Missed term instead if it was inches away.

 

[backontrack]

So perhaps 'near miss' is a near misnomer?

 

[pdeaves]

I dislike Near Misses too.
I prefer Far Misses, much safer.

Don't worry about missiles, it's hitiles that cause the trouble... (slightly misquoted from Milton Jones).

 

[Groningen]

One could also use close miss.

 

[Busaholic]

How do we know they were not Near Mrs?

 

[DaleCooper]

Shouldn't this talk of near misses be in the transgender thread?

 

[me123]

Near miss goes beyond collision - it's often used in general incident reporting to denote circumstances where an adverse event of any sort was narrowly averted. The term "near collision" would only work in circumstances where the event would have been a collision - and it's worth while remembering that when things are traveling faster (like aircraft) a near miss will be a greater distance than it would be for things traveling slower - this is because you have greater control over slower moving objects.

The term is perfectly sensible and cogent IMO, and it's important that such instances are appropriately investigated to ensure that actual incidents do not happen. Note that "appropriately investigated" does not necessarily mean disciplinary action.

 

[alxndr]

Most people I work with now use 'close call' instead. Hopefully that removes any ambiguity (perceived or actual!).

I've heard "close call" most often in regards to anything which could be a potential hazard, whereas "near miss" generally means someone narrowly avoiding being hit by a train, so they don't seem to be synonymous. "Close call" is becoming a verb as well, i.e. "I should close call that."

 

[najaB]

<Mode=pedant>I believe it's an adverb, not an adjective</mode>

Surely in the sentence 'That was a near miss' it's modifying the noun 'miss' rather than the verb 'was'?

 

[DaleCooper]

Surely in the sentence 'That was a near miss' it's modifying the noun 'miss' rather than the verb 'was'?

transmanche said "nearly" is an adverb.

 

[Gutfright]

I've heard "close call" most often in regards to anything which could be a potential hazardwhereas "near miss" generally means someone narrowly avoiding being hit by a train, so they don't seem to be synonymous.

"Potential hazard" is a bugbear of mine.

If a hazard is defined as something with the potential to cause harm, then what is a potential hazard? Something with the potential to have the potential to cause harm? Something that doesn't necessarily have the potential to cause harm, but potentially could have the potential to cause harm, potentially?

 

[DaleCooper]

"Potential hazard" is a bugbear of mine.

If a hazard is defined as something with the potential to cause harm, then what is a potential hazard? Something with the potential to have the potential to cause harm? Something that doesn't necessarily have the potential to cause harm, but potentially could have the potential to cause harm, potentially?

High voltage is a "potential hazard".

 

[Gutfright]

High voltage is a "potential hazard".

I was trying to think of an electrical pun, but now my head Hertz.

 

[najaB]

I was trying to think of an electrical pun, but now my head Hertz.

Now, now everyone - please have some resistance to posting these puns.

 

[Groningen]

Near miss > close call

 

[alxndr]

"Potential hazard" is a bugbear of mine.



If a hazard is defined as something with the potential to cause harm, then what is a potential hazard? Something with the potential to have the potential to cause harm? Something that doesn't necessarily have the potential to cause harm, but potentially could have the potential to cause harm, potentially?

Point taken. Although sometimes that description could be apt as some "hazards" are so harmless in their own right unless someone decides to do something daft around them.