I've just discovered the Guard style guide available on its Web site
(http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/styleguide/). It has this to say:

>metric system
>The Guardian uses the metric system for weights and
> measures; exceptions are the mile and the pint
>
>Since understanding of the two systems is a matter of
>generations, conversions (in brackets) to imperial units should
>be provided wherever this seems useful. Imperial units in quoted
>matter should be retained, and converted to metric [in square brackets]
>
>It is not necessary to convert moderate distances between
>metres and yards, which are close enough for rough and ready
>purposes, or small domestic quantities: two litres of wine, a
>kilogram of sugar, a couple of pounds of apples, a few inches of
>string. Small units should be converted when precision is
>required: 44mm (1.7in) of rain fell in two hours. Tons and tonnes
>(metric) are also close enough for most purposes to do without
>conversion
>
>Body weights and heights should always be converted in
>brackets: metres to feet and inches, kg to stones and pounds.
>Geographical heights and depths, of people, buildings,
>monuments etc, should be converted, metres to feet 
>
>In square measurement, land is given in sq metres, hectares
>and sq km; with sq yards, acres or sq miles in brackets. The
>floor areas of buildings are conventionally expressed in sq
>metres or sq ft.

Chris
-- 
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