That depends on the person or the organization, Jerry. An American
standards development organization (such as the American Welding
Society) can demand (via that organizations style guide, standard for
use of the SI, etc.) American spellings and a period as the decimal
marker. Or they can permit it. NIST SP 811 directs U.S. federal agencies
to follow the U.S. interpretation of the SI as found in SP 330.
Industries, societies, and organizations within the U.S. make up their
own minds on what they will accept.
A wise author considers his or her audience. That does not necessarily
mean that the author has to match the audience's style but ought to
consider whether the audience will accept the author's style and
comprehend it.
I do not use "-re" endings in emails or letters when writing to European
colleagues because they understand and accept my style of writing. If I
were to do so, they might think that to be an affectation (as would I).
However, if I were so bold as to propose a standard for a British
professional society or organization, they could demand that I match
their style for the sake of consistency within their library.
Jim
Jeremiah MacGregor wrote:
Even if the US does not use the comma as a decimal point nor the
spellings of litre and metre what does it do if an American (or foreign
source) choses to use them in offical documentation? Do they accept it
or make an issue of it?
Jerry
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* James Frysinger <[email protected]>
*To:* U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]>
*Sent:* Saturday, February 7, 2009 10:32:28 AM
*Subject:* [USMA:42925] Re: Boston Globe article on Sen. Judd Gregg
Martin, those channels are well established and are used. The U.S. is a
signatory nation to the Treaty of the Meter and has representation on
the CGPM, CIPM, and various consultative committees (CCs).
When we "interpret" the SI for use in the U.S., that perhaps means
something other than what comes to some folks' minds. Consider it more a
"regionalization" or "nationalization" than an "explanation". This is
where spelling differences, style of indicating the decimal point, etc.
come in. No changes are made to the definitions and realizations of the SI.
The official U.S. interpretation of the SI is found in NIST Special
Publication 330. The Foreword in this document should answer your
questions. See
http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP330/contents.html
Other nations publish similar documents, reflecting their various languages.
Jim
Martin Vlietstra wrote:
> May I suggest that this places the onus on the Secretary of Commerce to
> contact the CGPM via the appropriate channels should there be an area
where
> interpretation is required.
>
> There are at least two areas where SI permits local variations - the
choice
> of decimal delimiter (comma or dot) and the choice of upper or lower
case L
> for litres. Again, this suggests to me that the Secretary of
Commerce can
> decide on behalf of the US.
>
> Finally, this suggests to me that the Secretary of Commerce has the
power to
> require that "metre" and "litre" be spelt to UK way instead of the US way
> (not that he would ever do such a thing).
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
[mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>] On
Behalf
> Of Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
> Sent: 07 February 2009 01:45
> To: U.S. Metric Association
> Cc: U.S. Metric Association
> Subject: [USMA:42912] Re: Boston Globe article on Sen. Judd Gregg
>
>
> The statutory U.S. definition of the SI provides the Secretary of
Commerce
> can
> interpret or modify it for the United States.
>
> Quoting Jeremiah MacGregor <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>:
>
>> Paul,
>>
>> Why does SI need to be "interpreted and modified"? Isn't the rules
>> self-explanatory and what possibly would need to be modified? Doesn't
> that
>> interfere with the universality of metrics?
>>
>> Jerry
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Paul Trusten <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>
>> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 11:03:05 AM
>> Subject: [USMA:42869] Boston Globe article on Sen. Judd Gregg
>>
>>
>> After fits and starts in the nomination/confirmation process, New
> Hampshire
>> Senator Judd Gregg is poised to become the next U.S. Secretary of
> Commerce.
>> The Commerce Department includes the National Institute of Standards and
>> Technology (NIST). Federal law gives the Secretary of Commerce the
> authority
>> to "interpret or modify" the International System of Units for the
United
>> States.
>>
>> See the Boston Globe at
>>
>
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/02/04/for_gregg_a
> n_unlikely_new_assignment/
>>
>> Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
>> Public Relations Director
>> U.S. Metric Association, Inc.
>> www.metric.org <http://www.metric.org/>
>> 3609 Caldera Blvd. Apt. 122
>> Midland TX 79707-2872 US
>> +1(432)528-7724
>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
>
>
>
> Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
> Public Relations Director
> U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc.
> www.metric.org
> 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apartment 122
> Midland TX 79707-2872 US
> +1(432)528-7724
> mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>
>
>
>
--
James R. Frysinger
632 Stony Point Mountain Road
Doyle, TN 38559-3030
(C) 931.212.0267
(H) 931.657.3107
(F) 931.657.3108
--
James R. Frysinger
632 Stony Point Mountain Road
Doyle, TN 38559-3030
(C) 931.212.0267
(H) 931.657.3107
(F) 931.657.3108
