Mark,

Both BIPM and NIST accept either the . or the , as a decimal marker.  That is 
the reason both the . and the , are deprecated as a separator of groups of 
three numerical digits.
Instead, a space is recommended to separate groups of three.

Gene.

---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:16:08 -0800
>From: Mark Simon <[email protected]>  
>Subject: [USMA:42623] Re: REALLY using the SI  
>To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
>
>
>With regard to semantics, I would like to mention the use of the comma
>as decimal separator. I am sure that most of us are aware that comma
>"," is used to separate integers from the tenths in Europe as opposed
>to the period "." which is used in USA. Thousands, Millions, etc. are
>separated by a space as opposed to the comma. Mechtly has separated
>the thousand in the European manner.
>
>When I purchased nuts for my honda recently it was labeled as:
>M8-1.25, but the bolts I used to test the thread were labeled as:
>M8-1,25.
>
>Does SI specify the punctuation as to the decimal and thousands separators?
>
>On 1/27/09, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> Aaron,
>>
>> Agreed, the ton is a unit of mass.  Eventually, I hope,
>> a "metric ton," defined as exactly 1 000 kilograms, will be known simply as
>> a ton, identical to a tonne in some languages.
>>
>> I favor this use of the word "ton" ;not adoption of the Mg.
>>
>> Is this your first posting here?  Welcome!
>>
>> Gene.
>>
>>
>>
>> ---- Original message ----
>>>Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:39:25 -0700
>>>From: Aaron Harper <[email protected]>
>>>Subject: [USMA:42608] Re: REALLY using the SI
>>>To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
>>>Cc: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
>>>
>>>   I can't let this one go without making a comment.
>>>
>>>   Ships are measured in tons (units of Mass) of water
>>>   displaced by the ship.  Even though a given tonnage
>>>   ship displaces a specific volume of water, this is
>>>   not a volume mesurement.
>>>
>>>   Refrigeration unit capacities are rated by the
>>>   amount (again units of Mass) of ice created (or
>>>   frozen) per unit of time.  Usually, here in the USA,
>>>   this unit is presently given in tons.  It is not a
>>>   measure of the energy or heat required.
>>>
>>>   Respectfully,
>>>
>>>   Aaron Harper
>>
>>
>

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