Fact check: Sos originate from ships

1. Summary of the results

The statement "SOS originate from ships" is factually accurate based on the comprehensive analyses provided. Multiple sources confirm that SOS was indeed established as a maritime distress signal in the early 20th century.

The historical timeline shows that SOS was first introduced in 1905 as a replacement for the earlier distress signal CQD ^[1], and was officially adopted in 1908 as a universal distress signal ^[2]. The first recorded use occurred on June 10, 1909, by the Cunard Line passenger ship Slavonia, which ran aground in the Azores ^[3]. Additionally, the first recorded American use was in 1909 off the coast of Cape Hatteras ^[4].

All sources consistently confirm that SOS was originally established for maritime use and became the international standard for ships in distress ^{[5] [1]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement, while accurate, omits several important contextual details:

• SOS doesn't actually stand for anything - contrary to popular belief, the letters themselves have no meaning ^{[6] [4]}. The commonly cited phrases "Save Our Ship" or "Save Our Souls" are backronyms - meanings assigned after the fact ^{[6] [2]}.
• The signal was chosen for practical reasons, not linguistic ones. SOS was selected because of its distinctive Morse code sequence (three dots, three dashes, three dots) which was easy to transmit and recognize on telegraph systems ^{[4] [7] [8]}.
• SOS expanded beyond maritime use over time. While it originated on ships, it later became used by airplanes and other vehicles to indicate imminent danger, making it an iconic part of communication and transportation history ^[1].
• The signal represented a significant improvement in international maritime safety, replacing the less distinctive CQD signal and providing a universal standard for distress calls.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains no apparent misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward, factually correct claim. However, its brevity could inadvertently perpetuate common misconceptions about SOS standing for specific phrases like "Save Our Ship."

The statement's simplicity might also understate the historical significance of SOS as a crucial development in maritime safety and international communication standards. While not biased, the statement doesn't capture the innovative nature of choosing a signal based on its Morse code pattern rather than its linguistic meaning, which was a practical breakthrough in emergency communication systems.