4 ms·

I don’t get it. “5x smaller” and “0.2x the size” are the same. Can you explain then what do you expect to be the meaning of “two times smaller”?

• mikece 6y ago
  Clarity of language for one thing, but also that "times" is indicative of multiplication so "five times" anything has to be bigger[1]. One fifth is far clearer as there's no way to interpret that other than being a part of the size of the reference, ergo, smaller. Is it impossible to understand? No, but it's poor style for technical writing. [1] I'm ignoring the case of decimal math since the reference in this case is always the whole integer 1.
  • zanellato19 6y ago
    I think this takes the cake for the most pedantic HN comment I have ever read.
  • jiofih 6y ago
    I don’t know under which rock you’ve been hiding but “x times faster/smaller” has been in common use for decades, including technical writing. Everyone understands it as 1/X, there is absolutely no confusion.