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From the beginning, the SOS distress signal has actually consisted of a continuous sequence of three-dits/three-dahs/three-dits, all run together. In International Morse Code, three dits form the letter S, and three dahs make the letter O, so "SOS" became an easy way to remember the correct order of the dits and dahs. In modern terminology, SOS is a "procedural signal" or "prosign", and the formal way to show that there are no internal spaces when it is sent is to write it with a bar above the letters, i.e. .)
In popular usage, SOS became associated with phrases such as "Save Our Souls", "Save Our Ship", and "Send out Sailors". However, these phrases were a later development, most likely used to help remember the correct letters — something known as a backronym. |
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