"Metric" is understood, in today's context, to mean SI. However, "modern metric system" indicates SI unambiguously.
"Metric-system" is incorrect. The term is never hyphenated. In general, though, metric does not necessarily mean SI. Erg, dyne, gauss, oersted, curie, and so on are all metric, but they are not SI. Therefore, "non-SI" does not mean "non-metric." Most non-SI units accepted for use with SI (either unconditionally or in specialized fields) are, in fact, metric. Exceptions include knot and nautical mile, which, although they are currently officially defined in terms of meters per second and whole meters, respectively, are not actually metric. Bill Potts, CMS Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:owner-usma@;colostate.edu]On >Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 13:45 >To: U.S. Metric Association >Subject: [USMA:22902] RE: Mishmash of units at the liquor store > > >Apologies. I accidentally posted this to your email address instead of >the list. Here it is in the list. > >Bill Potts wrote: >>SI (sometimes [unofficially] clarified as "SI-metric") is simply the >>current version of the metric system. > >[...other interesting stuff snipped so that I can concentrate on the key >point...] > >Can I use 'metric', 'metric-system' and 'SI' as synonyms? > >And if something is 'non-SI' is it also 'non-metric'? > >-- >Terry Simpson >Human Factors Consultant >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >www.connected-systems.com >Phone: +44 7850 511794 >
