Author Topic: Is it "x-ray" or "X-ray"?  (Read 1657 times)

Probeman

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Is it "x-ray" or "X-ray"?
« on: April 29, 2019, 09:44:22 AM »
Is it "x-ray" or "X-ray" or (for Pete's sake) "X-Ray"?    ::)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation

Why do people sometimes capitalize the "x" in "x-ray"?  If we look at the wiki link above, we see that cosmic, radio, alpha, beta and gamma rays are usually not capitalized.  Even "x-rays" are often not capitalized.  What do you all think?
« Last Edit: April 29, 2019, 10:12:03 AM by Probeman »
The only stupid question is the one not asked!

Mike Matthews

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Re: Is it "x-ray" or "X-ray"?
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2019, 10:26:41 AM »
My vote goes to “x-ray”

jrminter

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Re: Is it "x-ray" or "X-ray"?
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2019, 11:29:12 AM »
Because Roentgen named them  "X-rays" in 1896. See https://www.nature.com/articles/053274b0.pdf

Probeman

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Re: Is it "x-ray" or "X-ray"?
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2019, 12:39:16 PM »
Because Roentgen named them  "X-rays" in 1896. See https://www.nature.com/articles/053274b0.pdf

But that's only because he didn't know what to call them!  The "X" was just a placeholder until we understood better what they were.

Mike: I like "x-ray" too.   8)
« Last Edit: April 29, 2019, 12:40:53 PM by Probeman »
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Nicholas Ritchie

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Re: Is it "x-ray" or "X-ray"?
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2019, 12:52:10 PM »
So shouldn't we just call them Roentgen rays and be done with these silly arguments? :)
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Probeman

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Re: Is it "x-ray" or "X-ray"?
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2019, 01:02:50 PM »
So shouldn't we just call them Roentgen rays and be done with these silly arguments? :)

Sure, but then you'd need to utilize a diacritical mark over the letter "o" and leave out the "e" to be precise...   :)
« Last Edit: July 12, 2019, 01:05:12 PM by Probeman »
The only stupid question is the one not asked!