[Asimovking]

Does it really matter whether an author uses the American system (inches, feet, miles) or the Metric system (centimeters, meters, kilometers) ?

When I first started reading space sci fi a few months ago I noticed the authors use metric, and so far metric is all that has been used in the books i've read. At first it was a little disconcerting, but i since have gotten used to it. Even though I still sometimes catch myself converting the numbers as I read. Lol.

I suppose it is best for the audience if the author uses metric since, as far as I know, only America uses the American system.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the matter.

[PeterWilliam]

I suppose it is best for the audience if the author uses metric since, as far as I know, only America uses the American system.

I would stick with metric, since it is far more intuitive (i.e. one-in-ten gradation). FWIW, I think we Americans use what is called the "English" system (e.g. pound, mile, foot, etc.).

[Asimovking]

I would stick with metric, since it is far more intuitive (i.e. one-in-ten gradation). FWIW, I think we Americans use what is called the "English" system (e.g. pound, mile, foot, etc.).

Curse Wikipedia, it called it "American" system. Lol.

[Jon Sprunk]

I suppose the metric system has a more "advanced" feel suitable for a lot of sci-fi. Like some fantasy novels use archaic measuring systems like rods, cubits, and leagues. Lends atmosphere if handles well.

[Window Bar]

I suppose it is best for the audience if the author uses metric since, as far as I know, only America uses the American system.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Hiya Asimovking-- I have to agree with you. As we move further and further into the digital age of publication--which means instant international distribution--the metric system will be the only one that communicates.

I would, however, make an exception. Have you noticed how much 'ancient lore' fantasy uses cubits or ells? Anything written in close viewpoint using non-scientist American characters might be more believable if the English/American system is used -- especially if the Time setting is right now or earlier. Of course, if the Time setting is future, you can go with metric.

--WB

[Loerwyn]

Have you noticed how much 'ancient lore' fantasy uses cubits or ells?
Modesitt uses cubits quite a bit, with the Imager Portfolio also using milles and a few other measurements, not to mention that time is measured in glasses.

I don't think an author has to stick to metric or imperial. If you convey a rough idea in your text of what the measurements are (Example being 1 Flibblewibble being roughly the length of a bed, which means 1 Flibblewibble is approximately 2 Metres/7(ish) Feet), then it doesn't matter too much.

[KatG]

Scientists use mostly metric, which is based on a straighter mathematic scale, so science fiction authors tend to use metric. It's generally assumed that in the future, where there may be no America, that everyone will have converted fully.

[goldhawk]

Only three countries (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_countries_still_use_the_English_system_of _Measurement) officially use the English measuring system but it's common varies within all English-speaking countries; some use it more, some less. NASA technical standards specify that the SI or International System of Units (Système international d'unités) (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/International_System_of_Units) shall be used for all their standards. So, space, it seems, will use the SI units.

[choppy]

Interestingly I've been reading Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet series lately and he tends to describe distances in reference to the speed of ligh - which makes a lot of sense - at least in his fictional universe. So he talks about light-minutes, or light-hours in space battles, and as a reader, it's easy to know what he's talking about because the time-element is familiar.

As an author, you need to think about what you need to convey to the reader through distances, whether it's important to include them at all, what the reader is likely to understand, and whether or not the unit you use is going to jar the reader from the story.

I try to avoid specifics unless they are critical to the plot. So if it's okay to get away with the fact that it takes half a day to travel from one city to the next, I leave it at that.

[Sarunus]

If your book is set in the modern day outside the UK, US, or Canada (where feet and inches are (were?) used to describe a person's height in common speech), then I would strongly consider the metric system. However, as people have mentioned above, using the English/Imperial/American system can also be appropriate, depending on your characters and setting.

If the setting is not clear or not a large part of the story, I'd consider metric strongly. If you're going to be describing distances and measurements in detail, and it is important to communicate those to your reader, you will be better served by using metric, which is the most widely understood system in the world.

As others have mentioned, the metric system is a bit more intuitive in the event that you need to get fancy with your distances and measurements, etc.

Good luck