At 10:45 PM 6/21/2002 +0200, Wizard of OS wrote:
>We are talking here about the grammar and spelling of measurement notation!
>
>if you write some kind of paper in school, would the teacher mark all
>mistakes done by you? or would he/she write: Jim, I averse now to score the
>mistakes but next time you have to do it right!
>
>got my point?
I see the point you are trying to make, and I agree to some extent. I am
happy with fundamental unit definitions, and with internationally-accepted
symbols, and some of the more basic "rules of measurement grammar."
But, just like languages are legitimately used in different ways depending
on the specific context, so to for the "grammar" of measurement systems.
For example, contractions are common in everyday language ("I don't know.")
but generally discouraged in formal writing ("I do not know."). Neither is
grammatically wrong.
Do we really want to force the most precise and unforgiving "measurement
grammar rules" into every aspect of life?
I recognize that such precision is necessary in some areas (e.g., science
and engineering), but why does that mean we must use the same precision
everywhere?
And, I think reality shows that humans are NOT going to accept such
precision where it is not necessary. That's why I have this bottle of
German beer that lists the contents as "500ml." Where is the harm in that?
Who would not immediately understand it? Where could it possibly cause any
confusion?
Jim Elwell, CAMS
Electrical Engineer
Industrial manufacturing manager
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
www.qsicorp.com
