There's not objectively defined tiers for what level each programming language is on, when people describe a language as low-level they are speaking relatively; They're saying 'picture a typical programming language, I'm talking about something like that except more low-level'.
Almost all people would consider C to be a low-level language compared to most languages they're familiar with. If you work in assembly all day then maybe you don't think C is a low level language, but those people aren't the ones calling it low-level.
Unless someone wants to define a cutoff for what a 'low-level' language is(and that would be a bad idea, the way it's used now is very useful and working as intended - it'd be better to make a new word) then I think the way the term is typically used is perfectly fine.
I could see an argument for saying C is 'less low-level than people typically assume', but saying it's not low level makes me think it's on the same level as Java or something.
I'm probably just nitpicking though, I always feel like people ignore the idea that the point of language is to communicate what you're thinking to someone else and have them interpret what you're trying to say as closely as possible, and language is already pretty good at evolving in a way that optimizes this. Trying to change that or force people to address technicalities that are outside the scope of what they're trying to communicate only complicates it(ignoring obvious exceptions like if you're writing a scientific paper and say things that are factually wrong for the sake of clarity)
Almost all people would consider C to be a low-level language compared to most languages they're familiar with. If you work in assembly all day then maybe you don't think C is a low level language, but those people aren't the ones calling it low-level.
Unless someone wants to define a cutoff for what a 'low-level' language is(and that would be a bad idea, the way it's used now is very useful and working as intended - it'd be better to make a new word) then I think the way the term is typically used is perfectly fine.
I could see an argument for saying C is 'less low-level than people typically assume', but saying it's not low level makes me think it's on the same level as Java or something.
I'm probably just nitpicking though, I always feel like people ignore the idea that the point of language is to communicate what you're thinking to someone else and have them interpret what you're trying to say as closely as possible, and language is already pretty good at evolving in a way that optimizes this. Trying to change that or force people to address technicalities that are outside the scope of what they're trying to communicate only complicates it(ignoring obvious exceptions like if you're writing a scientific paper and say things that are factually wrong for the sake of clarity)