Carsten, The litre is not an SI unit, but is approved for use with SI. Both the "L" and "l" and acceptable symbols for litre. The "L" was approved in the '70s to prevent confusion between the small l (ell) and the number one "1".
The symbols kgs and mt are the result of sloppy usage and not a sign of acceptance of these as alternate symbols. kgs means kilogram seconds and mt means millitonnes (or MT means megatesla). There really is not such unit as a "metric ton". It is a slang term created to distinguish it from the tonne. Americans don't like the spelling tonne and thus try to distinguish the ton of 907 kg from the ton of 1000 kg by adding the word metric to the word ton. Extreme stupidity and arrogance is the only reason behind this. The original UK tonne of 2200 (998 kg) pound was redefined under the WMA to be now 1000 kg. Thus, there is no confusion as to its meaning. In the US, this tonne was once called the "long ton". The US ton of 2000 (907 kg) pounds is called a short ton officially, but not in common terms. As to which of the three tons are in use depends on the objects used to measure. If pound scales are used, then the ton is calculated by deviding the pounds by 2000 (at least in the US). If the scales are in kilograms, then the tonne is calculated by moving the decimal palce 3 places to the left. The difference between the old UK tonne of 998 kg and and the present of 1000 kg is so small it doesn't really matter much how this one is interpretted. But with the UK scales now metric, the tonne is assuredly equal to 100 kg. To summarise what is correct and not correct, you need to consult the BIPM (http://www.bipm.fr). They and not popular mis-use are the true authorities as to which symbol is correct or not. Metric only labelling is still int he development phase. See: http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/200/202/forum/forumdir.htm Euric ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carsten Guthardt-Schulz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, 2004-02-29 21:18 Subject: [USMA:29037] Metric abbreviations > Hi, > > Is there somewhere a list with the official abbreviations for metric units? At school in Germany I was taught the lowercase l for litre, kg for kilograms and t for tons. Here in Canada I see quite often L for litre or even mL, as well as kgs or mt (metric tons). What's correct? > Is the US or UK ton still used anywhere at all? If so, how is it abbreviated? > > Last question: I heard some two years ago that the US was planning to pass a law allowings metric-only labeling. I haven't followed developments very closely, what's the status of this? > > > Carsten > >
