Patrick:
Years ago you and I worked on this issue and decided (or you decided) to use
symbols. That is the easiest way to avoid the spelling controversy while
also saving time, paper and ink in the process.
I know that you use symbols in ASNT technical writing, but there is no
reason not to use them everywhere. I have not seen many popular and daily
press spelling "British thermal units" - Btu is common. Or "pounds per
square inch" - psi is common.
I am an optimist: The American people can learn to recognize metric symbols
despite the NIH attitude. Editors should help that learning process by
resorting to them. And also to apply the rules of SI that your handbooks
follow so religiously. Congratulation.
Stan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patrick Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Sent: 08 May 08, Thursday 09:18
Subject: [USMA:40864] meter
When we members of the USMA address e-mails and letters to US publications
(periodicals, web sites, and newscasts), it would be rhetorically smart to
use the spelling "meter" rather than "metre." "Metre" looks foreign and
multiplies the likelihood that our opinion will be dismissed as alien.
I realize that many of us are obsessive-compulsive and are averse to the
US
spelling. Nevertheless, my perspective as an editor in the USA is that the
Franco-British spelling hurts our cause.
