That's an interesting one. I guess here in the heartland (or at least inside this house in the heartland) we say "Carbeen" (long "E"). Carbien (long "I") just doesn't hit the ear exactly right...roddy wrote:Even the right word with the wrong pronunciation can get some people's feathers ruffled. Example? Carbine. Is it carbeen, or carbien? It seems to be regional...some say it one way, some say it the other. Either way, you'll likely get a cringe or a stern look if you say it differently than the listener is used to.
Beyond that, I'm with keeping it appropriate for your audience. For layman, it's "guns" and "ammo." For experts like you all, I try to make it more specific. I'm liking "projectile" instead of "bullet." Pistols and revolvers are different handguns. Rifles are rifles, shotguns are shotguns.
"Weapons" definitely rings of military/LE, so that always catches my ear...
Never, ever, ever is it a clip.