Martin: Nobody is denying the status of the word "metric," as a noun, OUTSIDE the scope and context of SI.
However, WITHIN the scope and context of SI, "metric" is only ever used as an adjective. Outside SI, "metric" does not refer to a standard, but to a means. "Metrics" typically consist of counts and percentages (and, often, very subjective ones). Where those who use the term "metrics" need to use units of measure, there is no implicit standard that determines what those units will be. Here, of course, we hope they'll use SI units (and, in almost all other countries, they would do so as a matter of course), but that's beside the point. This, by the way, is a topic we dealt with on this list over 10 years ago. I guess it does need to be brought up, though, from time to time (maybe every 100 Ms or so). Bill ________________________________ Bill Potts Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Martin Vlietstra Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 13:03 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:40679] RE: Promoting Metrication Gene, Metric is a noun as well as an adjective. Consider the following sentence "The metrics used to describe the technological development of a nation include energy consumption per capita, GNP per capita, number of cars, telephone, TV sets etc per capita". Martin -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 26 March 2008 18:17 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:40676] Promoting Metrication Ernie, I applaud your efforts to promote metrication in the USA! However, please *do consider* Bill Potts message below. The word "metric" is an adjective. Appropriate terms for USMA objectives are "metric units" or "metric system" or "metric system of units"; or the symbol SI for each of the above terms. The word "metrics" is a noun, unrelated to SI in particular, although it is widely used as Bill explains below to access performance of a campaign or process. Gene Mechtly. ---- Original message ---- >Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:28:05 -0700 >From: "Bill Potts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [USMA:40674] RE: Furthering Metrics >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > > Ernie: > > Did you miss my recent message about the use of the > term "metrics?" > > Basically, it said that the word "metrics" appears > nowhere in official documentation on the metric > system or in related standards documentation. > Rather, it's a non-technical term, unrelated to the > metric system, that refers, broadly, to the means by > which one measures the effectiveness of something > (e.g., an advertising campaign). > > Metric, as used in the context of the Modern Metric > System (SI) is an adjective and, therefore, is never > written in the plural. > > The goal of organizations like the US Metric > Association is to further the use of the Modern > Metric System (which, of course, involves the use of > metric units). > > Please accept this as information, not as criticism. > > Bill Potts > > ------------------------------------------------ > > Bill Potts > Roseville, CA > http://metric1.org [SI Navigator]
