In a message dated 2005-04-18 14:52:04 Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Once again, I think people here are missing the point.  I have no problem
with using "half liter" as a colloquialism. 
Agreed, I've never understood getting upset if someone says 'half a litre' instead of 500 ml, 0.5 L.
 
I can agree that we need to write 0.5 L or 500 ml, but '0.5' is the SAME THING as 1/2 or half.  They are synonymous in speech.  Just like 'quarter past the hour' instead of '15 minutes past'  We're used to speaking in fractions and I see no reason to change that.  Besides the decimal is just a fraction, instead of 'five tenths of a litre' you get a 'half litre'.
 
So pass the half-litre of coke, and let's get rid of the 1 1/4 US fl. pint bottles that come out of machines around here.
 
Augustine
 

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