Is this a freudian slip showing that you envisage metric as primarily for scientific or academic purposes? You've mentioned before that you acknowledge its use in science and, if I'm not mistaken, you belong to the generation educated primarily in metric.
Yes - I was educated in the eighties when they dropped imperial from the agenda altogether. Imperial was reintrioduced in the early 90's in the national curriculum. It wasn't a slip - although metric has 'made-it' into certain areas I still believe it to be a school lesson/science thing.
I'm especially interested in the academic association. I have a suspician that kids doing metric in maths, science etc but imperial outside lessons may instill a belief that metric is for "squares" (a quaint phrase common in my youth).
I wouldn't say 'squares' since most visitors from the continent will speak metric in their English (mostly). If you went about 'overusing' it in convertsation where imperial tends to get used I guess people would just be wondering why you're being so 'accurate' (I think that many will see the use of metric being something where super-accuracy is needed too) - or - as I said - sounding 'oversientific'.
Its a but like the literary side where kids are taught proper grammer etc (or used to be) in english lessons but talk more colloquially or even some wierd language of their own invention elsewhere. Talking properly at that age ends up being regarded as talking posh or being ridiculed. (I know this happens in America too coz I've seen the movies :-)
Have you seen an episode of the BBC's "Little Britain" ?
