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The and tags cover largely the same ground, and to me they seem to be used more or less interchangeably.

Should we combine them (make one a synonym of the other)?

(If you think they should not be combined, could you give a "for dummies" explanation of when each tag should be used? I'd like to improve the tag wikis at least.)

Currently, the tag wiki descriptions are:

Questions about connecting flights or other forms of transport.

Passing through a place briefly while travelling on the way to somewhere else.

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  • I'm not a native English speaker, but in my opinion, the word transit refers mainly to air travel while connection has a much broader meaning.
    – RoflcoptrException
    Jul 9, 2012 at 9:31
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    Hmm, I'm not sure about that (looking at the current tag wiki, or a dictionary, "transit" doesn't refer especially to air travel). By the way, almost all questions tagged with either tag are about air travel.
    – Jonik
    Jul 9, 2012 at 9:45
  • I thought "transit" meant an international connection, but I haven't looked at how the tags are actually used.
    – Monica Cellio
    Jul 11, 2012 at 2:24

3 Answers 3

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I recommend making main tag and a synonym.

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  • I'm not sure which should be primary. Combine them by all means but after reading choster's answer maybe a new tag name might be best?
    – hippietrail
    Jul 25, 2012 at 10:28
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I'm a little late to the game, but must voice a strong concern with the proposal.

"Transit" in American English almost invariably refers to public transportation. It's in the names of major agencies such as New Jersey Transit and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, and for that matter Google Transit. Merriam-Webster gives the last part of the primary definition of "transit" as

local transportation especially of people by public conveyance;

While questions heretofore may have been about air travel, as this site gains momentum I can easily see someone asking "Can I get from LAX to Olvera Street by transit?" or "What are my transit options on Christmas in Atlanta?" and tagging the question in the same way.

Anecdotally, I would say the terminology "transit passenger" is significantly less common than "connecting passenger" outside of those in the travel industry, not surprising because the overwhelming majority of flights are domestic, unlike most of the world, and I think most concerns about being in transit relate to customs and immigration questions.

So, I would certainly not consider transit to be a synonym of connection, and would see if it can be "salted" to force someone to choose between connection and public transport.

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  • Hmm for this sense of "transit" we already have another tag that works in all English rather than just US English: public-transport.
    – hippietrail
    Jul 25, 2012 at 10:27
  • The existence of alternative terms doesn't change the fact that transit is still ambiguous. Besides, an American would say public transportation.
    – choster
    Jul 25, 2012 at 14:19
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Done as @Ankur suggested..

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    This should be a comment and accept of Ankur's answer rather than a separate answer.
    – hippietrail
    Jul 25, 2012 at 10:29
  • @hippietrail Can't accept his answer :)
    – VMAtm
    Jul 25, 2012 at 14:55
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    Oh yeah didn't realize you were the "solver" but not the OP (-: Still shouldn't be an answer though d-:
    – hippietrail
    Jul 25, 2012 at 19:53

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