Jim (Frysinger) and John (Steele),
My belief is that more Associated Press writers are beginning to realize that
metric units are becoming more acceptable in the United States, whether or not
the AP Stylebook approves of this trend.
The Reference Librarian (at the University of Illinois) has not yet received
the 2011 Edition of the Stylebook; "soon to come in May" but I intend to
examine it when it is available to see if there is a change in policy making
metric units more acceptable, to see if there is any recognition of documents
on SI, and to see if there are some of the "corrections" such as those that
John is suggesting.
(Have you sent your letter yet, John?)
Unfortunately, many articles, including the article that Jim cites below, give
non-metric statements first, (rounded in two-digit numbers) followed by the
corresponding metric statements (not-rounded in three-digit numbers), giving
the false impression that metric units are less desirable.
Gene.
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It may be my imagination, but it seems to me that Associated Press is
slowly -- very, very slowly -- metricating. AP line feeds about events
in the U.S. that are liable to find international audiences now often
include metric equivalents in parentheses for distances and heights. And
their rounding seems to be appropriate most of the time. The article
that prompted my thoughts here is at
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/09/residents-cling-homes-mississippi-keeps-rising/?test=latestnews
Jim
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James R. Frysinger
632 Stony Point Mountain Road
Doyle, TN 38559-3030
(C) 931.212.0267
(H) 931.657.3107
(F) 931.657.3108
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