Over here (I'm from the UK) its either "imperial" or simply "UK measures". I think the older generation favour "imperial" and the younger generation "UK measures". It's not uncommon to hear "what's that in UK measures?". On the other hand, just the unit can be used to express the usage - like "what's that in miles". In this case reference to the type of unit gets lost altogether and you get the odd situation of people not even knowing if something is metric or imperial!
From: Jim Elwell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:31784] RE: The shape of the Earth Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2005 10:52:17 -0700
At 3 01 05, 10:37 AM, Stephen Humphreys wrote:
>I was sort of hoping that the USMA were above name calling.
>Some of the posts here are quite interesting to read and I haven't come across any childishness.
>I don't think the BWMA has any "names" for metric - its simply called "metric".
>
>>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
>>Subject: [USMA:31776] RE: The shape of the Earth
>>Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2005 17:29:59 +0000
>>
>>We have been using FFU on this list for years, as well as several other terms.
>>
>>Carleton
I personally have never been fond of FFU or WOMBAT -- they are "insider" terms that no one outside the group knows or understands. Using them decreases our ability to communicate outside this group.
For the same reason, the term SI is not the best to use when talking to non-technical people -- "metric" is much better.
There is no real good, simple term for the "traditional US measurement system." Terms like "British units" or "English units" or even "imperial units" just don't really describe the American traditional system (which, as everyone on both USMA and BWMA lists know is different from the British traditional system).
The most accurate term I've seen is "American customary units," but that is too long to become a commonly used phrase.
Jim Elwell
Jim Elwell [EMAIL PROTECTED] 801-466-8770 www.qsicorp.com
