Dear Stephen,

on 2004-12-31 02.18, Stephen Humphreys at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> <<I have sent a short (stiff) note to the editor at the Sydney Morning
> Herald.>>
> 
> I'm not sure if you are aware, but the "flexible" attitude to representing
> metric is very widespread in Europe - with distances in "mts", speed in
> "kmh" and weight in "KGS".

I am aware of this and I am opposed to this use of such arbitrary,
incorrect, abbreviations. The International system of units was designed to
be, and it is, simple to use. I have little sympathy for those who try to
complicate it.

Here are two items from 'Metrication matters' newsletters. (See:
http://metricationmatters.com/newslwetter for back copies.

**
The internationally accepted symbol for the metre is the lower-case letter m
without a full stop or period. However this does not stop creativity. In
Geelong, I have found the following incorrect versions of the lower case
letter m on signs, in newspapers, and in advertisements: M, Mt, MT, Mt.,
MT., Mtr, Mtr., Mtrs., mr, mr., me, m., ms, ms., mt, mt., mts, mts., mtr,
mtr., mtrs, mtrs., or my personal favourite Mtres.

The correct symbol for kilogram is kg and the correct symbol for kilograms
is also kg � with no 's' on the end. However, I have seen: Kg, kay-grams,
KG, Kilo, KGs, kay, kilo, kilog, kgram, k-grams, kilos, kaygees, Kilos, k,
kays, Kgs, K, or KGS.
**

> BTW - how does one post a response to a USMA listserv question and actually
> see it on the list?
> 
I assume that you have subscribed to the list at:
http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/listserv.htm

If you have and you are still having problems please contact the USMA
webmaster, Don Hillger, at:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]


Cheers and best wishes for your metrication program,

Pat Naughtin ASM (NSAA), LCAMS (USMA)*
PO Box 305, Belmont, Geelong, Australia
Phone 61 3 5241 2008

Pat Naughtin is the editor of the free online monthly newsletter,
'Metrication matters'. You can subscribe by going to
http://www.metricationmatters.com and clicking on 'Newsletter'.

 * Pat is the editor of the 'Numbers and measurement' chapter of the
Australian Government Publishing Service 'Style manual � for writers,
editors and printers', he is an Accredited Speaking Member (ASM) with the
National Speakers Association of Australia, and a Lifetime Certified
Advanced Metrication Specialist (LCAMS) with the United States Metric
Association.


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