2002-08-21 The unit millimetre is spelled correct. Even though the US insists on spelling metre and litre with -er instead of -re, I stick with -re. There is a very good reason to do so.
A metre is a unit of length. A meter is a device that is used to measure something. Thus, a micrometre and a micrometer are not the same thing. A micrometre can be calibrated to measure in micrometres. I think of a litre as a unit of volume and a liter (pronounced like lighter) as a type of marking pen (Hi-liter). There is a logic and sense to spelling the units with -re and the "devices" with -er. But, somehow the "educated brains" in this country missed that one. The only thing to do is ignore their ignorance and spell the SI units with -re and if someone asks, explain why. John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carl Sorenson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, 2002-08-21 17:57 Subject: [USMA:21864] calculator > > >what kinda calc? > >casio? on a palm? > > I wrote: > >> I have a > >> calculator with a conversion chart that refers to "acre" rather than > >> "are". Is this a typo? > >> > >> Carl > > It is a cheap Office Depot brand calculator with a printed conversion table > on the inside of its cover. It has a number of oddities. Here is a sample > of what it has: > Metric GB & US > 25.3995 millmetres [sic] 1 inch > 4.8297 kilometres 1 league > 1 acre 0.0247 acres > 1 hectare 2.471 acres > 1 centigram 0.1543 grains > 1 litre 1.75 pints (2.101 us pints) > > etc. > > I think I will write a letter and mention the problem with are/acre, the old > definition of the inch (and misspelling of millimeter), and the oddity of > leagues, centigrams, and grains. > > Carl >
