Talk:Phonograph record

Records don't always have spiral grooves

According to the lead text, "[a record] is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove." Records only including locked grooves, such as this one, are not included in this definition, but they are still undeniably records. Worms and weird fishes (talk) 21:55, 2 March 2026 (UTC)

A locked groove is still a spiral, although a degenerate one. See List of spirals. However, it's a violation of WP:LEAD to include this definition without it being verified in the article with a source citation. GA-RT-22 (talk) 22:34, 2 March 2026 (UTC)

Units

This article does not appear to follow the Wikipedia Manual of Style regarding units of measurement.[] Avi8tor (talk) 09:11, 9 September 2026 (UTC)

@Avi8tor, can you be more specific or give examples? You're also welcome to WP:BEBOLD and fix stuff yourself. ~Kvng (talk) 14:47, 15 September 2026 (UTC)

All I see is inches, no convert template for those of us who don't use or know inches. I've noticed this on a couple of other articles, I thought I'd get some input before I act. Avi8tor (talk) 15:16, 15 September 2026 (UTC)

Be careful. I don't think it would be appropriate to add a {{convert}} to something like 7-inch single where it is more of a name than a dimensional specification. You may want to refer to Floppy disk and Hard disk drive where there are similar issues. ~Kvng (talk) 15:54, 15 September 2026 (UTC)

Until I read this article I had never heard of a 7 inch or any other inch size associated with music discs (records) The name more likely used is LP or single. Regardless, This was probably written from a US perspective, dismissing the fact that the other 95.6% of the planet does not use inches. There is a header at the top of the article that states "this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject." Avi8tor (talk) 10:54, 16 September 2026 (UTC)

I've reviewed this and made some improvements. There were already a comprehensive set of conversions in the Overview section and elsewhere early in the article. I added a few more. I don't think we need one every place inch is used; That seems unnecessarily repetitive but I don't find any specific guidance on this at MOS:CVT. ~Kvng (talk) 15:31, 20 September 2026 (UTC)

If the article used cubits you might wonder what that is in the units you use, without having to look back at what it might be in your unit. I think people in the US fail to realize most of the planet, (about 95%) uses metric only and never see inches. So I think it is necessary. Avi8tor (talk) 19:31, 20 September 2026 (UTC)

What is necessary, metric conversion for every use of inches? If we're in disagreement, we could ask for help at Wikipedia talk:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers. ~Kvng (talk) 03:01, 21 September 2026 (UTC)

When 95% of the planet uses metric only! See Metrication. Maybe we could just use inches 5% of the time and have the other 95% metric. Regardless, the manual of style already address this: "The Wikipedia Manual of Style for Units of Measurement requires using International System of Units (SI) or accepted non-SI units as the main standard, while ensuring clarity for English-speaking readers". Avi8tor (talk) 10:34, 21 September 2026 (UTC)

I appreciate that the US is backwards here. So would you prefer the article to say 300 mm (12 in) discs played at 33+1⁄3 rpm? I beleive the reason inches currently go first here is AFAIK internationally that's still the most common way to refer to the different sizes (the sizes were originally specified in inches). I'd be happy to hear evidence to the contrary but we want to use terminology that most familiar to readers (WP:COMMONNAME). ~Kvng (talk) 14:32, 21 September 2026 (UTC)

Per the MOS, the primary unit depends on the links the article has with a particular country. This appears to be a US editor writing an article on something with strong ties to the US. Therefore the inches go first and the SI second. As mentioned previously, until I read this article I had never come across any size for records other than LP and single. I however did not write the article, which with the omission of any SI unit did not comply with the MOS. Fractions are a US hangover from using Roman units. (Look up inch) The modern equivalent of fractions is a decimal. The article is quite detailed and with the addition of ancient and modern units is fine. Avi8tor (talk) 16:04, 21 September 2026 (UTC)

There were already unit conversions in the Overview section when you started this discussion. Now there are a few more. Are we done? ~Kvng (talk) 16:23, 21 September 2026 (UTC)