KiLOMetres
Sir, — I congratulate G. A. Pollock and E. de Lacey on taking up cudgels in support of the correct pronunciation of units in our metric system. The system is simple in its method of calculation and simple in nomenclature — a set of units with the appropriate prefixes for larger or smaller amounts. It seems to me that the stressed syllable should remain the same in every case as a matter of consistency. The examples given by both correspondents illustrate :he absurdity created if a consistent pronunciation were adopted but they have both missed the most ludicrous tongue-twister of them all — asking your chemist for 250 milLlLitres of carbon tetrachloride. Television is the worst offender as many thousands of impressionable children have “kiLOMetres” broadcast to them each night. — Yours, NORMAN HADLER. April 28, 1978.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19780429.2.103.4
Bibliographic details
Press, 29 April 1978, Page 14
Word Count
134KiLOMetres Press, 29 April 1978, Page 14
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in