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[–] 47 points 1 year ago (1 child)

Doesn't half a trillion sound like more than 500 billion? Even though 500 billion is already a lot?

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  • [+] -19 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    No, "half" sounds like half. 500 of something sounds like more than half of something. (Yes, trillion > billion, we're not debating the actual facts - which are the same either way - just the way it's perceived in a headline)

    Half of dinners. 500 meals. Half a car. 500 auto parts. Half of all dealerships. 500 independent dealers. etc.

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    none of your examples make sense. "trillion" has more gravity than "billion" in headlines. simple as that.

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