Customary System Metric United Units Measurements Eslpod States

In the United States, people use a system of measurements known as "customary units" or the "traditional systems of weights and measures." Most other countries "prefer" (like more) the "metric system" (the system of measurements based on liters, meters, and grams).

American scientists, doctors, and other technical professionals usually use the metric system, but "laypersons" (ordinary Americans, not technical specialists) are more familiar with customary units. Signs and labels usually use customary units. For example, most products in a grocery store are labeled in pounds and gallons rather that grams and liters.

The U.S. customary units were based on the British system of measurements, so the measurements have a "rich" (with a lot of value and meaning) history, but they are not very "practical" (easy to understand and use). Customary units require a lot of memorization and "converting between units" (expressing a single value in different units, such as gallons versus cups), involving more complex calculations than in the metric system.

In 1988, the United States passed the "Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act" which recognized the metric system as the preferred system for "commerce and trade" (the buying and selling of goods in business). The Act requires the federal government to help "industry" (businesses) adopt the metric system, but only if industry wants to do so "voluntarily" (without being forced to do something). U.S. schools try to teach students both systems of measurement.