4 ms·

Why? I can drop something (accidentally) and have it land on the floor (in a chaotic manner). It doesn’t imply any sense of controlled descent.

voytec 3y ago
> The 1.6lb (0.7kg) metal object tore through two layers of ceiling I'm ok with "landing" preceded by "crash".
brookst 3y ago
If you dropped a plate and it broke into a million pieces, would you say “the plate landed on the floor”? There’s an argument that it’s not wrong, but it’s definitely not a typical use of the word. “Land” does not imply controlled descent but it does imply a non-catastrophic settling in the new position.
- williamcotton 3y ago
  In the context of “space debris” the word “lands” does not imply a non-catastrophic settling in a new position.
  - sfn42 3y ago
    I threw a rock and it landed in a field
- defrost 3y ago
  Absolutely, if I threw a plate in the air I might ask where it landed, on the roof or on the floor, I might follow that by asking in how many pieces did it land. I've spoken fluent Commonwealth English in Australia and across multiple countries for > 6 decades .. what flavour of English do you speak ? Addendum: By way of example: The incident comes roughly a year after another similar Chinese rocket fell to Earth, landing in the Atlantic Ocean but not before it reportedly left a trail of debris in the African nation of Cote D'Ivoire. as written by: Steven Freeland Professorial Fellow, Bond University / Emeritus Professor of International Law, Western Sydney University, Western Sydney University https://theconversation.com/a-giant-piece-of-space-junk-is-hurtling-towards-earth-heres-how-worried-you-should-be-160254 https://theconversation.com/a-giant-piece-of-space-junk-is-h... Dunno 'bout you but I reckon an Emeritus Professor of International Law from a Commonwealth country might not be too shabby at the olde mother tongue? FFS don't go all Webster, Strunk & White on us now .. #NotMyEngrish
  - xanderlewis 3y ago
    Yeah, I think this might just be a British (/Commonwealth) thing. 'Land' seems perfectly suitable to me.
- justin66 3y ago
  That headline landed with me.
- xanderlewis 3y ago
  > If you dropped a plate and it broke into a million pieces, would you say “the plate landed on the floor”? Yes.
- DiggyJohnson 3y ago
  Yes, that is a typical use of the word. "Damn, I dropped the plate and it landed on the tile floor, not the soft rug." All I can say is that "land" as a verb does not in my experience (including my work in aerospace industry) imply a controlled touchdown.
- lupusreal 3y ago
  Q: How'd you break your toe? A: I dropped my sofa while moving it and it landed on my foot.

voytec 3y ago

> The 1.6lb (0.7kg) metal object tore through two layers of ceiling I'm ok with "landing" preceded by "crash".

brookst 3y ago

If you dropped a plate and it broke into a million pieces, would you say “the plate landed on the floor”? There’s an argument that it’s not wrong, but it’s definitely not a typical use of the word. “Land” does not imply controlled descent but it does imply a non-catastrophic settling in the new position.

williamcotton 3y ago
In the context of “space debris” the word “lands” does not imply a non-catastrophic settling in a new position.
- sfn42 3y ago
  I threw a rock and it landed in a field
defrost 3y ago
Absolutely, if I threw a plate in the air I might ask where it landed, on the roof or on the floor, I might follow that by asking in how many pieces did it land. I've spoken fluent Commonwealth English in Australia and across multiple countries for > 6 decades .. what flavour of English do you speak ? Addendum: By way of example: The incident comes roughly a year after another similar Chinese rocket fell to Earth, landing in the Atlantic Ocean but not before it reportedly left a trail of debris in the African nation of Cote D'Ivoire. as written by: Steven Freeland Professorial Fellow, Bond University / Emeritus Professor of International Law, Western Sydney University, Western Sydney University https://theconversation.com/a-giant-piece-of-space-junk-is-hurtling-towards-earth-heres-how-worried-you-should-be-160254 https://theconversation.com/a-giant-piece-of-space-junk-is-h... Dunno 'bout you but I reckon an Emeritus Professor of International Law from a Commonwealth country might not be too shabby at the olde mother tongue? FFS don't go all Webster, Strunk & White on us now .. #NotMyEngrish
- xanderlewis 3y ago
  Yeah, I think this might just be a British (/Commonwealth) thing. 'Land' seems perfectly suitable to me.
justin66 3y ago
That headline landed with me.
xanderlewis 3y ago
> If you dropped a plate and it broke into a million pieces, would you say “the plate landed on the floor”? Yes.
DiggyJohnson 3y ago
Yes, that is a typical use of the word. "Damn, I dropped the plate and it landed on the tile floor, not the soft rug." All I can say is that "land" as a verb does not in my experience (including my work in aerospace industry) imply a controlled touchdown.
lupusreal 3y ago
Q: How'd you break your toe? A: I dropped my sofa while moving it and it landed on my foot.