As a U.S. group, let¹s try extra hard to set aside national prejudices and think clearly about standardization. In the case of paper, there are two separate issues: (1) what size paper should we use; (2) how should its dimensions be controlled (in the factory) and expressed (on its package etc.). If the paper were called 216 x 280 instead of 8.5 x 11, then the purposes of this newsgroup would be satisfied.
-- > From: Ron Stone <[email protected]> > Reply-To: <[email protected]> > Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:30:11 -0800 > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > Subject: [USMA:46762] A4 letter paper > > in reply to USMA:46710, my impression is that most people who use a 'legacy > letter' format are unaware of an 'ISO letter' size that is described in ISO > 216. > > i have found that not only can A4 letter provide more area for more text (in > both portrait or landscape orientations), A4 letter can also accommodate a > larger area of aspect 2x3 (an aspect that is common to many digital cameras), > with less unused space. (and these are just a few of the advantages) > > i just thought that these might be some important considerations for anyone > who was thinking about using an ISO paper size such as A4. > > it might also be easier to understand these comparisons in terms of the > millimeter (metric) rather than the inch (pre-metric). > > Ron > > On 2010 Feb 20 Sat DoY 051, at 08:09, James R. Frysinger wrote: > >> You will get to explain to a lot of people why your paper differs in size >> from that used by others around you. To you, this might be a pain or an >> opportunity. >> >> When stated in millimeters, both A4 and letter size have dimensions that are >> hardly what one would call "round numbers". Frankly, the bit about A0 paper >> having an area of exactly 1 m2 doesn't matter to anyone (well, maybe 3 or 4 >> people in the world). How often do you depend on the area of a sheet of paper >> in terms of square meters? > >> Jim >> >> Carleton MacDonald wrote: >>> I¹m just about out of the U.S. letter-size paper I bought a while ago, and >>> need to buy more. >>> Staples has a deal on Hammermill A4 paper, $57.99 for a case of 10 reams. >>> It¹s good multiuse paper suitable for use in inkjet and officejet printers >>> as well as for other uses. I¹d rather get that. >>> What kind of difficulty, if any, might result from me using A4 paper in a >>> ³letter² world? (For one thing, my son is in his last semester of community >>> college and may have to write a paper or two.) >>> Carleton >> >> -- >> James R. Frysinger >> 632 Stony Point Mountain Road >> Doyle, TN 38559-3030 >> >> (C) 931.212.0267 >> (H) 931.657.3107 >> (F) 931.657.3108 >> > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >
