Jason Darfus wrote:
Decen {DEH-sin} is my new word for a metric dozen (ten versus twelve).There is no need for a metric dozen. A dozen (or, in the original French, douzaine -- derived from douze, meaning twelve) will always mean twelve. The French do have a word for a group of ten -- dixaine (with the x pronounced as a z). However, they don't call it "un douzaine m�trique"). They also have quinzaine for a group of fifteen. Similarly, words like "vingtaine" (for a group of twenty) are quite legitimate. In that particular respect, English is a little less elegant. Whether we use metric or "traditional" units (and I'm not recommending the latter), we need to remember that SI is for measuring, not for counting. A dozen is a count and a perfectly valid one. Things are packaged in half dozens and dozens because of geometry. A carton of twelve eggs can easily be cut into two groups of six. That's very helpful for old people, living alone, who may not be able to afford (or have space for) a larger number. If you try to divide a carton of ten eggs in two, you end up with two different quantities (unless you cut lengthwise, for which a complete package redesign would be needed). For bottled drinks (e.g., beer) 4-, 6-, 8- and 12-packs work, geometrically speaking. A 10-pack (2 rows of 5 bottles) ends up being a little clumsy (although a 3-4-3 honeycomb arrangement might be an interesting novelty, but wouldn't be optimum with respect to shelf space usage). A 30-pack works fine, too, as do 18- and 24-packs. Getting back to "a decen," what's the problem with simply saying "ten?" We say "a dozen" through force of habit. However, "twelve" is more concise. We ask for six-packs and twelve-packs of beer, not for "half-dozen-packs" and "dozen-packs." Bill Potts, CMS Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator]
