From: kilopascal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
<Here is three questions I'd like to see answered. I don't plan to write,
but if someone does, they might want to include these:>
<1.) Why is it okay to use the SYMBOL for millimetres (mm), but not for the
others?>
The Associated Press apparently doesn't think Americans are familiar enough
with other metric symbols (I'm going to point out the "abbreviation" vs.
symbol error to Norm Goldstein, the editor of the AP Stylebook).
<2.) How exact are conversions to be?>
It's variable. The IFP-to-metric conversion chart in the AP Stylebook has
these conversion factors (I changed the form of expression for brevity):
inches X 2.54 = centimeters
foot X 30 = centimeters
yards X 0.91 = meters
miles X 1.6 = kilometers
sq. inches X 6.5 = sq. centimeters
sq. feet X 0.09 = sq. meters
sq. yards X 0.8 = sq. meters
sq. miles X 2.6 = sq kilometers
acres X 0.4 = hectares
ounces X 28 = grams
pounds X 0.45 = kilograms
short ton X 0.9 = metric ton
teaspoons X 5 = milliliters
tablespoons X 15 = milliliters
fluid ounces X 30 = milliliters
cups X 0.24 = liters
pints X 0.47 = liters
quarts X 0.95 = liters
gallons X 3.8 = liters
cubic feet X 0.03 = cubic meters
cubic yards X 0.76 = cubic meters
Fahrenheit [subtract 32, then multiply by 5/9ths] = Celsius
The metric-to-IFP conversion factors are:
millimeters X 0.04 = inches
centimeters X 0.4 = inches
meters X 3.3 = feet
kilometers X 0.62 = miles
sq. centimeters X 0.16 = sq. inches
sq. meters X 1.2 = sq. yards
sq. kilometers X 0.4 = sq. miles
hectares X 2.47 = acres
grams X 0.035 = ounces
kilograms X 2.2 = pounds
metric tons X 1.1 = short tons
milliliters X 0.03 = fluid ounces
liters X 2.1 = pints
liters X 1.06 = quarts
liters X 0.26 = gallons
cubic meters X 35 = cubic feet
cubic meters X 1.3 = cubic yards
Celsius [Multiply by 9/5ths, then add 32] = Fahrenheit
<3.) What rule specifies exchanging unit names (i.e. metres to yards)
instead of actually converting the units?>
There is no actual rule regarding this. The AP Styleguide suggests:
"...Follow the metric units with equivalents in the terms more widely known
in the United States. Normally, the equivalent should be in parentheses
after the metric figure. A general statement such
as: "A kilometer equals about five-eighths of a mile," would be acceptable,
however, to avoid repeated use of parenthetical equivalents in a story that
uses kilometers many times."
Jason
