The previous article describes how weights and measures legislation was saved from the axe by changes to the REUL Bill. There was another important victory that has also been won by UKMA with the help of powerful stakeholders though it took years to win. UKMA spent years fighting the Department for Transport before the battle to make metres mandatory on restriction signs was eventually won.
Continue reading “The other victory UKMA won in the end”Victory for UKMA as W&M legislation is saved from bonfire of EU laws
When former Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg introduced the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill last year, around 4000 EU-derived laws were in danger of being scrapped by default at the end of this year. Among the threatened laws were several items of weights and measures legislation, which this blog covered in the Rees-Mogg’s legislation time bomb article. Several amendments to the Bill were accepted and most of the laws have been saved from the axe. The Bill received royal assert at the end of June 2023 and is now the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act.
Continue reading “Victory for UKMA as W&M legislation is saved from bonfire of EU laws”CMA investigates unit pricing practices in the groceries sector
Today, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its review of unit pricing in the groceries sector. The CMA has identified several problems with current unit pricing practices, which may affect shoppers’ abilities to make comparisons. This is a big cause for concern when prices are rising. The review mainly covers the unit pricing practices of eleven nationwide supermarkets. It also covers the unit pricing practices of seven nationwide variety store retailers that sell general merchandise alongside a relatively small selection of groceries.
Continue reading “CMA investigates unit pricing practices in the groceries sector”Kitchen utensil names in recipes
In American recipes and in some old recipes, you might come across units such as teaspoons, dessert spoons, tablespoons and cups. In recipes, they do not refer to any old teaspoon, dessert spoon, tablespoon or cup but to specific physical quantities. How many are aware that these names refer to volume measures rather than physical kitchen utensils? These units are non-standard, and each unit has several definitions – a range of different teaspoons, dessert spoons, tablespoons and cups have been used.
Continue reading “Kitchen utensil names in recipes”Space dilemmas for writing metric symbols and thousands separators
The BIPM’s SI brochure states “The numerical value always precedes the unit and a space is always used to separate the unit from the number.” and says that the space, not a comma or a dot, shall be used for the thousands separator. There are several space characters in computing, but the brochure does not state what kind of space you should use when typing. Ideally, you would use a non-breaking space to ensure that no line break separates the numerical value from the unit. Users face the same issue when using a space for the thousands separator.
Continue reading “Space dilemmas for writing metric symbols and thousands separators”One proposed solution to improve writing of metric symbols
In the third of the series of articles on writing metric symbols, I propose a practical solution to improve the writing of metric symbols. My solution addresses one major source of metric symbol errors that I identified in my previous article.
Continue reading “One proposed solution to improve writing of metric symbols”Too many take the easy way out when writing metric symbols
Following the previous article about the limited impact of UKMA’s Metric Style Guide and the widespread mistakes in writing metric symbols, we look at one major source of these mistakes. Too many avoid the use of awkward characters that cannot be found on a standard keyboard and end up writing metric symbols incorrectly.
Continue reading “Too many take the easy way out when writing metric symbols”Metric Style Guide – has it had any effect?
Despite the best efforts of UKMA to promote correct usage, the writing of metric symbols leaves much to be desired. Former UKMA Chair Robin Paice reflects on the impact of the UKMA’s Metric Style Guide since its publication, evaluates other style guides, comments on the teaching of measurement units in schools and makes suggestions for UKMA’s committee to improve the situation.
Continue reading “Metric Style Guide – has it had any effect?”The conflict between measurement choice and accuracy
When the Government launched its “Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales” consultation, it stated that it is committed to reviewing the current law to identify how more choice can be given to businesses and consumers over the units of measurement they use for trade, while ensuring that measurement information remains accurate. These two objectives are in direct conflict. If you want to know how they conflict, read on.
Continue reading “The conflict between measurement choice and accuracy”Amended REUL Bill is a big improvement over the original Bill
When former Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg introduced the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, around 4000 laws were due to be scrapped at the end of this year. He and his pro-Brexit supporters had no idea which ones will disappear, what, if anything, will replace them and which ones will be kept. This has been replaced with a list of almost 600 laws that will be revoked or sunset by the end of this year. Each law on the list is shown with its associated government department, its purpose and the reason for revocation.
Continue reading “Amended REUL Bill is a big improvement over the original Bill”
Metric Views 