I would agree on the third point. It really is easier to say "miles"
rather than "kilometers" (I hate "klicks"!). Saying "one k" works with
a lot of runners, however. "Liter", however, has it all over "gallons"
and is just as easy as "quarts".
HARRY WYETH
3) *Monosyllabic names for many customary units. *Our opponents
sometimes raise this as an advantage of the old system over the metric
system. I think we should pay attention to this opinion. Inch, foot,
yard, rod, mile. Ounce, pint, quart. Two exceptions might be bushel
and gallon. Compare this to "millimeter," "centimeter," or
"kilogram." Of course, metric is far more logical and coherent,
but--and I hate to admit this---logic and coherency may just not be at
the top of the American shopping list for measurement needs.
