On Sun, 5 Jan 2003 16:08:54 Gene Mechtly wrote: >On Fri, 3 Jan 2003, Ma Be wrote: > >> ... it really is irrelevant to a metric user if he encounters a mixture >> of prefixed units. > >Marcus, only one "SI unit", the meter, is under discussion here, not >"units" (plural). Among many other SI prefixes, only three have been >selected for this discussion. All three are applied here to the meter. > >Why do you write "prefixed units" (units, plurals)? The mm, cm, and >dm are all SI symbols for "submultiples" of the meter. Multiples and >submultiples of an SI unit are not "units" in their own right. See the >BIPM Brochure. > >I believe you mean "a mixture of prefixes." Are you persuaded? >... ? I'm sorry, my friend, I'm not sure I am. Languagewise any submultiple of an SI unit can be referred to as a 'prefixed unit' (technically, more completely, a prefixed SI unit). I don't honestly believe the BIPM brochure would prohibit a legitimate grammatical reference to an entity defined therein.
True, the SI unit in question is indeed the meter, but grammatically speaking m, c, d, h, k, etc are all 'prefixes'. Alas, if you employ these 'submultiples' (a synonym), or prefixes, to an SI unit, it should be perfectly legitimate to adjectivate the noun unit to become 'prefixed unit'! Please notice that I'm simply using *grammar rules* here. I see no antagonism with the BIPM brochure. In addition, submultiples are *mathematical* entities, which, BTW, are not tied to a specific SI unit, actually they can and are to be employed/attached to any and ALL units. In other words, you're absolutely correct in your point, but grammatically I believe I applied de term 'prefixed unit' in proper form and number. I do understand and appreciate though your zeal for correctness when it comes to proper use of the SI system terms, symbols and all. But, please just forgive me for making use of what I still believe to be a legitimate grammar expression for an SI entity, even if you would or could only consider it to be colloquial or less rigorous. Thanks for your observation though. In any case I promise I'll take your point into account and consider any suggestions you may provide to address the question. If you have any suggestions and/or alternatives for the use of an identifier *noun* to a thing like mm, cm, etc, I'd be most appreciative. Best regards, Marcus ____________________________________________________________ Get 25MB of email storage with Lycos Mail Plus! Sign up today -- http://www.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus
