John Kilopascal wrote in USMA 23931:
The term micron is not an SI unit. It should not be used. In fact it is
deprecated. The correct name for 10^-6 m is micrometre (pronounced
my-crow-meet-er). You are correct in stating that the micrometer
(my-crom-eh-ter) is a measuring device. The difference in both the
pronunciation and the meaning of the words is distinguished by the spelling.
One ends in -er and the other in -re.
But, some people (Americans) insist on spelling metre and litre with the -er
ending, thus creating confusion. They can't seem to get it through their
thick skulls that there is a logic in spelling the metric units differently
from similar units with the -er spelling. The metre is a unit of length,
the meter is a device used to measure. The litre (pronounced lee-ter) is a
metric unit of volume (but not SI) and is distinguished by the -re spelling
from liter (pronounced light-er), which has taken on the meaning of less
fat, or a type of magic marker (hi-liter).
Remember.....spell it with -re!
John
The English version of the metric bible, "Le Syst�me international
d'unit�s" was edited by Chester H. Page of the National Bureau of
Standards (now NIST) and Paul Vigoureux of the National Physical
Laboratory (UK). The (US) Government Printing Office insisted that
the American spelling is "meter". Chester Page refused to allow his
name to appear on the US edition.
--
Joseph B. Reid
17 Glebe Road West
Toronto M5P 1C8 Telephone 416-486-6071
