Amen, Pat. It would be hard to write a more thorough study. Congratulations!
I always considered the -er, -re issue too silly to get involved. Its existence
contradicted the image I held for my adopted country as being practical, common
sense, and free to chose.
Your story, unfortunately, reminds me of a similar, far more expensive issue -
the American effort to push thru the U.S. pipe thread ("National Pipe Thread"
or NPT). This was so that one influential businessman could make a lot of money
in making and selling the associated cutting and gaging tools. The whole world
at that time used the British (later ISO) pipe standard and thus the mostly
U.K.-made tools. NPT made Mr. Sellers wealthier, and his cronies within ASME
and government probably also (I do not imply anything illegal, just unethical).
For those not familiar with pipe threads, the differences between the NP and
the ISO threads are not perceptible by naked eye. As a result - do I need to
continue? Zillions in all kinds of currencies wasted in malfunctioning of
machinery repaired all over the world with mixed threads. Here in the US, it is
billions of dollars wasted in leaks and similar problems when imported
machinery is "repaired" with NPT fittings. "But is seemed to fit" is the usual
excuse. Similarly it is abroad with the U.S.- made machinery (although that
problem has now lessened - not much machinery is made here, let lone exported).
Those who read about NPT history may recall all kinds of advantages claimed for
it. In fact, there are none for all practical purposes, and whatever minute
improvement it offered, "screwing up" (pun intended) the whole world with a
redundant standard hurts everyone, the U.S. including.
I agree that the meter, metre controversy cost money. Not only that, I believe
that blocking the alternative -re contributed greatly to the failure of
adopting metric in the 1970s in the U.S. And as with the NP thread, it was only
a few that had to have things the American way. Pat (as others before him)
tells us in beautifully uncertain terms: -re is just as American as -er. Most
people, like myself, could not care less either way (including dropping the
controversial -e- altogether). As for Mr. Sellers, the proponent of NP - he
went for the money. Unlike with the -er, that reason is at least understandable.
Stan Jakuba
----- Original Message -----
From: Pat Naughtin
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: 08 Oct 07, Tuesday 17:52
Subject: [USMA:41803] Spelling metre or meter
Dear All,
I have cobbled together some thoughts on this issue and formed them into an
article that I have placed at:
http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/Spelling_metre_or_meter.pdf
I would appreciate any comments.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped
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