Why do people use the word "shipping" when they are refering to post?
Posted by Less_Manufacturer779@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 23 comments
This seems to be a very recent thing. Seems as though everyone decided to start saying shipping overnight and p&p or postage and packaging has disappeared. Why shipping when there are no ships involved?
AceTactica@reddit
It's called shipping because the majority of the world trade is done through ships.
Less_Manufacturer779@reddit (OP)
I can understand when you are buying something from overseas, however, I've seen it used by UK manufacturers sending goods just within the UK, no ships involved.
FamiliarWelcome6481@reddit
Because it's a part of our language which changes often. How old are you? People have used the word shipping for centuries.
Less_Manufacturer779@reddit (OP)
But that's the thing, it's not evolving naturally. It stopped evolving independently and started just taking words from America English.
AceTactica@reddit
Again, it's just a misnomer.
Less_Manufacturer779@reddit (OP)
A very modern misnomer that has really gathered momentum in the last 5 years or so.
AceTactica@reddit
I think you're overthinking this.
StarShipYear@reddit
I also want to add that many e-commerce websites are built on top of software built by US tech company. If that's the case, the word "shipping" will be the default to describe sending a product.
Less_Manufacturer779@reddit (OP)
This is what I've been suspecting. There was a time when UK English was respected as different from US English and things were "translated". Now we just use the American words and pronunciation for everything. I understand language changes over time but this doesn't feel like natural evolution, it feels like a take over.
OddSign2828@reddit
Americanism
FamiliarWelcome6481@reddit
Nope.
OddSign2828@reddit
Why was this the comment you came to reply to 4 months later?
FamiliarWelcome6481@reddit
TF is "post?" You mean a postal service like the post office? Yes, the postmaster is the one who ships products for people. Ship is a verb that means to send something. Has absolutely nothing to do with americanism at all.
Last_Negotiation4073@reddit
I say shipping or mailing now since I was chatting online with an American and said I’d post it and they thought I was talking about posting something on social media.
Less_Manufacturer779@reddit (OP)
Why would you change the way you speak because of a single online encounter?
Last_Negotiation4073@reddit
It wasn’t just once!
ARobertNotABob@reddit
It's been over longer than 5 years.
eBay is why it caught on over here, all the P&P stuff on there is Shipping because it's a Yank company.
As with many things, people carry personal habits into the workplace (and vice versa) and Hey Presto, it becomes a generic.
EvilTaffyapple@reddit
Because it is travelling by ship?
Less_Manufacturer779@reddit (OP)
You can have international postage that travels by ship. However postage describes the whole journey, shipping just goes from port to port.
WowzersTrousers0@reddit
Because they are ordering something from abroad, which comes on a ship.
It is a not term used when you are sending your Aunt Mabel a Christmas card.
ambergriswoldo@reddit
It’s just easier if selling to both the UK and International market
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Lot of it comes by ship from China. Wholesale has always been shipping. As we move from letters to parcels, probably more relevant. Had stuff delivered outside the postal system by a shipping courier last week.
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