Hypothetical question about a train
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Imagine a train that comes into a station, stops, and goes back the way it came. Would it be reasonable to say that this train has "turned around"? It has changed direction but there is no literal turning involved.
word-choice word-usage
asked May 27 at 14:40
DerBlauePantherDerBlauePanther
1
add a comment
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Imagine a train that comes into a station, stops, and goes back the way it came. Would it be reasonable to say that this train has "turned around"? It has changed direction but there is no literal turning involved.
word-choice word-usage
asked May 27 at 14:40
DerBlauePantherDerBlauePanther
1
1
Trains often have an engine section on both ends - and normally they're both "powered up", regardless of which direction the train is moving. But I imagine there are dual controls in the driver's cab at each end, and even though the whole train doesn't "turn around", the driver moves from one end to the other before starting his return journey. So conceptually / functionally, the complete system (train + driver) has actually "rotated". Whatever - we don't normally bother about the details. We just say the train turns around at the terminus and goes back to wherever it came from.
– FumbleFingers
May 27 at 14:55
2
I would say switch/change direction. It's really only important to people who find not facing the direction of travel uncomfortable.
– KarlG
May 27 at 15:54
add a comment
|
Imagine a train that comes into a station, stops, and goes back the way it came. Would it be reasonable to say that this train has "turned around"? It has changed direction but there is no literal turning involved.
word-choice word-usage
asked May 27 at 14:40
DerBlauePantherDerBlauePanther
1
Imagine a train that comes into a station, stops, and goes back the way it came. Would it be reasonable to say that this train has "turned around"? It has changed direction but there is no literal turning involved.
word-choice word-usage
word-choice word-usage
asked May 27 at 14:40
DerBlauePantherDerBlauePanther
1
asked May 27 at 14:40
DerBlauePantherDerBlauePanther
1
asked May 27 at 14:40
DerBlauePantherDerBlauePanther
1
asked May 27 at 14:40
DerBlauePantherDerBlauePanther
1
asked May 27 at 14:40
DerBlauePantherDerBlauePanther
1
1
1
Trains often have an engine section on both ends - and normally they're both "powered up", regardless of which direction the train is moving. But I imagine there are dual controls in the driver's cab at each end, and even though the whole train doesn't "turn around", the driver moves from one end to the other before starting his return journey. So conceptually / functionally, the complete system (train + driver) has actually "rotated". Whatever - we don't normally bother about the details. We just say the train turns around at the terminus and goes back to wherever it came from.
– FumbleFingers
May 27 at 14:55
2
I would say switch/change direction. It's really only important to people who find not facing the direction of travel uncomfortable.
– KarlG
May 27 at 15:54
add a comment
|
1
Trains often have an engine section on both ends - and normally they're both "powered up", regardless of which direction the train is moving. But I imagine there are dual controls in the driver's cab at each end, and even though the whole train doesn't "turn around", the driver moves from one end to the other before starting his return journey. So conceptually / functionally, the complete system (train + driver) has actually "rotated". Whatever - we don't normally bother about the details. We just say the train turns around at the terminus and goes back to wherever it came from.
– FumbleFingers
May 27 at 14:55
2
I would say switch/change direction. It's really only important to people who find not facing the direction of travel uncomfortable.
– KarlG
May 27 at 15:54
1
1
Trains often have an engine section on both ends - and normally they're both "powered up", regardless of which direction the train is moving. But I imagine there are dual controls in the driver's cab at each end, and even though the whole train doesn't "turn around", the driver moves from one end to the other before starting his return journey. So conceptually / functionally, the complete system (train + driver) has actually "rotated". Whatever - we don't normally bother about the details. We just say the train turns around at the terminus and goes back to wherever it came from.
– FumbleFingers
May 27 at 14:55
Trains often have an engine section on both ends - and normally they're both "powered up", regardless of which direction the train is moving. But I imagine there are dual controls in the driver's cab at each end, and even though the whole train doesn't "turn around", the driver moves from one end to the other before starting his return journey. So conceptually / functionally, the complete system (train + driver) has actually "rotated". Whatever - we don't normally bother about the details. We just say the train turns around at the terminus and goes back to wherever it came from.
– FumbleFingers
May 27 at 14:55
2
2
I would say switch/change direction. It's really only important to people who find not facing the direction of travel uncomfortable.
– KarlG
May 27 at 15:54
I would say switch/change direction. It's really only important to people who find not facing the direction of travel uncomfortable.
– KarlG
May 27 at 15:54
add a comment
|
1 Answer
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It didn't literally "turn around" and come back, but it did figuratively and colloquially "turn around" and come back. So it's both correct and incorrect, depending on the interpretation.
If you wanted to be very exact about the wording, you might avoid the phrase "turn around". "The train want back the other direction.", "The train returned to Hamburg", etc.
answered May 27 at 15:38
SamSam
1265 bronze badges
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It didn't literally "turn around" and come back, but it did figuratively and colloquially "turn around" and come back. So it's both correct and incorrect, depending on the interpretation.
If you wanted to be very exact about the wording, you might avoid the phrase "turn around". "The train want back the other direction.", "The train returned to Hamburg", etc.
answered May 27 at 15:38
SamSam
1265 bronze badges
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It didn't literally "turn around" and come back, but it did figuratively and colloquially "turn around" and come back. So it's both correct and incorrect, depending on the interpretation.
If you wanted to be very exact about the wording, you might avoid the phrase "turn around". "The train want back the other direction.", "The train returned to Hamburg", etc.
answered May 27 at 15:38
SamSam
1265 bronze badges
add a comment
|
It didn't literally "turn around" and come back, but it did figuratively and colloquially "turn around" and come back. So it's both correct and incorrect, depending on the interpretation.
If you wanted to be very exact about the wording, you might avoid the phrase "turn around". "The train want back the other direction.", "The train returned to Hamburg", etc.
answered May 27 at 15:38
SamSam
1265 bronze badges
It didn't literally "turn around" and come back, but it did figuratively and colloquially "turn around" and come back. So it's both correct and incorrect, depending on the interpretation.
If you wanted to be very exact about the wording, you might avoid the phrase "turn around". "The train want back the other direction.", "The train returned to Hamburg", etc.
answered May 27 at 15:38
SamSam
1265 bronze badges
answered May 27 at 15:38
SamSam
1265 bronze badges
answered May 27 at 15:38
SamSam
1265 bronze badges
answered May 27 at 15:38
SamSam
1265 bronze badges
1265 bronze badges
add a comment
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add a comment
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1
Trains often have an engine section on both ends - and normally they're both "powered up", regardless of which direction the train is moving. But I imagine there are dual controls in the driver's cab at each end, and even though the whole train doesn't "turn around", the driver moves from one end to the other before starting his return journey. So conceptually / functionally, the complete system (train + driver) has actually "rotated". Whatever - we don't normally bother about the details. We just say the train turns around at the terminus and goes back to wherever it came from.
– FumbleFingers
May 27 at 14:55
2
I would say switch/change direction. It's really only important to people who find not facing the direction of travel uncomfortable.
– KarlG
May 27 at 15:54