On Thu, 22 Dec 2005 04:43:59 +0000 (UTC), "Reg Edwards"
wrote:


The French should be given full credit for inventing the unit of
length by correctly spelling it, the "METRE".

Reg, I think the US was one of the relatively early signatories to the
metre convention, but reserved the position to spell "metre" as
"meter".

I can't recall when the UK signed the convention, my recollection is
that we in VK signed it much later than both, however we metricated
earlier than the UK, and the US hasn't metricated (metericated???) in
the true sense of the word.

I don't miss the days of rods roods poles perches chains etc, without
mentioning other dimensional units.


Also, this avoids confusion with the frequently used word "METER", a
measuring instrument, when they are both mentioned in the same
sentence.
==========================================



Oh well.

Give some people 25.4mm and they will take 16,609.344m! (Lost
something in the translation I suspect!)

Owen
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