Measurements

Posted by R. Berg on April 06, 2001

In Reply to: Measurements posted by James Briggs on April 06, 2001

: Here in Britain were are slowly, oh so slowly, changing to the Metric system of measurement. The old system of lengths and weights is often termed 'Imperial'. What sort of collective noun is used in other parts of the world? I bet they don't call it 'Imperial' in the US!

My first impulse was to say that in the U.S., when we need to emphasize the difference between the two systems, we speak of British units: "I have a hard time thinking in centimeters. I was brought up on the British units." But, looking in a dictionary (American Heritage), I find these statements: "There are three major systems of measurement units in wide use: the U.S. Customary System, the British Imperial System, and the International (Metric) System. . . . The U.S. System has its origins in the British System, but they are not identical. . . . In the British System the units of dry measure (capacity) are the same as those of liquid measure. In the U.S. System they are not."

• Measurements Bob 04/06/01
  • Measurements Q 04/06/01
    • Measurements ESC 04/06/01
      • Measurements R. Berg 04/07/01
        • Measurements:a help to convert James Briggs 04/08/01
          • Measurements (and measured responses) R. Berg 04/08/01
            • Measurements ESC 04/09/01
              • Measurements Q 04/09/01
                • Measurements Barney 04/09/01
                  • Measurements James Briggs 04/10/01
                    • Measurements Barney 04/11/01
                      • Measurements Long John 05/07/01