Returning to the matter of a usage rule or guideline for the term 'weight', a few more points call for consideration.
Some usages of the term 'weight' may be underspecified, or even not at all specified. Here are a few sources of information about usage:
Weight vs. Mass; What's the Difference?
'http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/gene_nygaard/weight.htm'
The _Chicago Manual of Style_ (14th ed) also refers to measures
of weight in terms of both 'weight and mass' and 'weight or mass'.
The practical matter of whether a term is _underspecified_ or not is however situated relative to a particular context of use, and does not necessarily determine the _accuracy_ or _correctness_ of a particular usage.
One approach is to use other expressions other than a term like 'weight' to specify what is meant:
'http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/kilogram.html'"The 3d CGPM (1901), in a declaration intended to end the ambiguity in popular usage concerning the word "weight," confirmed that: The kilogram is the unit of mass; it is equal to the mass of the international prototype of the kilogram."
As some usages of the term 'weight' might call for normative specification, then the following guidelines should be considered:
If 'mass' and not 'force' is meant, then the SI unit for mass is the kilogram (kg).
If 'force' and not 'mass' is meant, then the SI unit for force is the newton (N).
As there are so many different scales, practices, and methodologies for measuring quantities expressed in terms of 'weight' or 'mass', the following points might be used to address questions of usage.
The particular usage of a term 'weight' can be established or specified with reference to an appropriate mise-en-pratique, standard, or style guideline.
The 'accuracy' or 'correctness' of a particular usage can be properly assessed only with reference to an applicable mise-en-pratique, standard, or style guideline.
Other expressions related to 'weight' that might be underspecified, or even not at all specified include the following: 'weight', 'mass', 'gravity', 'force', and 'acceleration'.
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Ron Stone
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