Collinear parallel vs collinear

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The discussion clarifies the distinction between "collinear parallel" and "collinear" in vector terminology. "Collinear parallel" indicates that vectors are on the same line and have an angle of zero between them, meaning they point in the same direction. In contrast, "collinear" alone signifies that vectors lie on the same line without any assumptions about their directional relationship. The term "anti-parallel" is recommended for describing collinear vectors that point in opposite directions.

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"collinear parallel" vs "collinear"

I'm trying to understand the difference between "collinear parallel" and "collinear" when describing vectors. "Collinear parallel" seems mean that the vectors are "on the same line" and that the angle between them is zero; so they are in the same direction. Is that the correct way to interpret the phrase? Then, "collinear" used by itself just means that they're in the same line, but we can't make an assumption about their direction being the same or opposite?

Thanks.
 
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I agree with you that this is a confusing terminology but, yes, both vector v and vector -v are "collinear" but not "parallel". I prefer the term "anti-parallel" for vectors that are "collinear" but pointing in opposite directions.
 

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