Dear Chris and All,
Here are the variations on the symbol m, for metre, that I have collected
around my home in Geelong.
M, Mt, MT, Mt., MT., Mtr, Mtr., Mtrs., mr, mr., me, m., ms, ms., mt, mt.,
mts, mts., mtr, mtr., mtrs, mtrs., and my personal favourite Mtres.
I sometimes amuse myself by translating these erroneous abbreviations into
real SI units:
M is mega
Mt is megatonne
MT is megatesla
Mt. is megatonne with a useless dot
etc.
The basis of doing this is that SI is a supported system of units and its
symbols have definite, internationally accepted, meanings.
Old units such as miles had, and continue to have, no definite,
internationally accepted, meanings. In various places (and under various
jurisdictions) the word miles might be abbreviated to M, ML, Ml, MI, Mi, m,
ml, mi, M., ML., Ml., MI., Mi., m., ml., mi., etc., etc., etc.
Again my perverse thinking often says:
mega, megalitre, megalitre, megainch, megainch, metre, millilitre,
milliinch, etc.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
CAMS - Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist
- United States Metric Association
ASM - Accredited Speaking Member
- National Speakers Association of Australia
Member, International Federation for Professional Speakers
--
on 2002/05/23 03.07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> On Wed, 22 May 2002 09:50:56 -0700, "Bill Potts"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>> It's good that he was found guilty, but bad that someone had posted a sign
>> with "mtrs" on it.
>>
> All too common, I'm afraid, Bill. I don't know whether this is
> ignorance, or a desire not to be confused with the usage of 'm' for
> miles in the UK (which looks like it even conflicts with our own Units
> of Measurement Regulations!)
>
> Chris
