Originally posted by LMcD
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Pedants' Paradise
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This is a sticky topic.
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Originally posted by oddoneout View Post... those machines are getting damned clever, and the day is surely not that far away when the computer refuses to take the blame?
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Originally posted by Bryn View PostIt isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.
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Originally posted by Bryn View PostTrust you to spot why I posted it where I did.
US gallons are different to the imperial gallon.
In the Americas, a gallon is equivalent to 128 fluid ounces or 3.785 liters (American spelling).
But in the UK, it's 160 fluid ounces or 4.546 litres (British spelling).
Or should that be 'different from'?
I copied the wording from here:
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Originally posted by Pulcinella View PostUS gallons are different to the imperial gallon.
In the Americas, a gallon is equivalent to 128 fluid ounces or 3.785 liters (American spelling).
But in the UK, it's 160 fluid ounces or 4.546 litres (British spelling).I keep hitting the Escape key, but I'm still here!
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Originally posted by LeMartinPecheur View PostAFAIK the root of this difference lies in the fact that where we have 20 fluid ounces to the pint they have 16, presumably on some sort of analogy with 16 ounces to the pound. We start from a UK gallon of water weighing 10lb, a pint therefore 160/8 = 20oz. 1/20pt therefore weighs 1oz and therefore that volume gets called a fluid ounce. Or used to anyway.
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Slightly off to be picky about a particularly solemn occasion, but the BBC's: "Beirut blast: Victims remembered in one month anniversary vigil". I see the OED gives five such 'extended use' examples, all American, the first in 1871.Though I don't suppose the BBC's is the first British example.
For me it might equally well be under the words that set my teeth on edge, not least because, in extreme old age, time is already going so fast that this occurrence might have happened a year ago .It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.
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Originally posted by french frank View PostSlightly off to be picky about a particularly solemn occasion, but the BBC's: "Beirut blast: Victims remembered in one month anniversary vigil". I see the OED gives five such 'extended use' examples, all American, the first in 1871.Though I don't suppose the BBC's is the first British example.
For me it might equally well be under the words that set my teeth on edge, not least because, in extreme old age, time is already going so fast that this occurrence might have happened a year ago .
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