What is the common term incorrectly used for magnitude regardless of how it is measured?

The term "Richter Magnitude" is often used colloquially to refer to the magnitude of earthquakes, regardless of the specific scale being applied. However, this term correctly describes measurements made using the original Richter scale developed by Charles F. Richter in 1935. The Richter scale is specifically designed for measuring the amplitude of seismic waves from local earthquakes.

In contrast, modern seismology has developed several different scales to capture the complexities of earthquake magnitude more accurately. For instance, the moment magnitude scale is now preferred for larger events as it considers a broader range of seismic wave energies and is more applicable across various distances and locations. Other scales, such as the body-wave magnitude and surface-wave magnitude, also provide different ways to measure an earthquake's strength.

Because of its strong association with earthquake measurement, the term "Richter Magnitude" is often misapplied to reference any measure of seismic energy, even when other more accurate scales are in use. Hence, while people may commonly use it, it does not appropriately reflect the nuances of how magnitude is measured today.