# Words one can get confused

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 18, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772 "2022-09-18T20:10:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-one-can-get-confused/971772/296 "2023-03-17T17:05:54Z")

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Ordinance and ordnance.

> [@Omnibus Stupid MFers in the news thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread/931945/6083):
>
> Emphasis added… … ??? thinkingbulb Ohhhhh!! [“Ordnance”.](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordnance) I was thoroughly baffled for a bit there, wondering what was so disruptive about trying to pawn some old municipal regulation against ships.

> [@Why different color codes for underwater ordinance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-different-color-codes-for-underwater-ordinance/683519):
>
> Was reading a guide to color codes used for bombs, missiles and such, and several colors had a little footnote saying they were meaningless on underwater munitions (mines, torpedoes, etc.). Since these color codes seem to be shared by both land and sea-based aircraft (and presumably ships and land vehicles too), I’m wondering why the underwater stuff is different. Here’s my source: [Ammunition Color Codes - 14014\_182](http://navyaviation.tpub.com/14014/css/14014_182.htm)

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