Why do Americans not use metric system?

Answer 1

Americans are trying to be special. every country has something special about them, and that's just one of the Americans ways. i read on a answer to a question on Yahoo, saying when the Americans broke away from the british they wanted to break apart even more, so they started making changes, like what measurements they used. they also changed things like their government, currency, ect.

Answer 2

The United States has not fully adopted the metric system due to historical reasons, inertia, and a preference for the customary system. There have been some efforts to transition to metric, but widespread adoption has been slow due to factors such as the cost of conversion and existing infrastructure using the customary system.

Answer 3

The original idea was that 1 fluid ounce of water is supposed to weigh 1 ounce of weight.

Also, 1 pint (16 fluid ounces) of water is supposed to weigh 1 pound (16 ounces of weight).

Well, that may be helpful ... maybe ... when you're dealing with water, but it's not helpful at all

when you're dealing with, say, olive oil, copper, or maple syrup. Time and experience have shown

that having to deal with ounces of force and ounces of volume just serves to confuse most of the

people who don't work with these things every day.

Answer 4

I take exception to the charge of Exceptionalism. While it certainly exists, it does not extend as far as our system of measurement. There is very little case to be made that the customary system is better than the metric system. The major force behind not making the switch is economic. As just one example, the expense involved in changing all of the signs on four million miles of road would be prohibitive, not to mention re-tooling all of our factories.

It's just what we're used to. Imagine if your ancestral country changed its system of measurement and everything the inhabitants had learned from distance to cooking to temperature was different. It's likely they would not be eager to switch.

Answer 5

In actuality the USA uses the metric system to engage in global commerce. No metric using nation would purchase equipment that just doesn't fit. At the present time there are only 3 countries not using the metric system - two of them however do use it but not officially. That leaves the USA all alone.Most of the non-metric measurements in use in the USA would be a confusion to Americans - ask anyone to convert between rods and fathoms, or the definition of a slug, hogshead, horsepower or similar would get blank looks.

It basically comes down to the fallacious argument that "We've always done it this way - so it must be right"

Answer 6

They do this so that when giving mesurments most all people know about how much an ounce is and nobody gets confused.

Answer 7

It comes from the old Italian word onza, now spelled oncia.

See the Related Link.

Answer 8

Americans don't like change and it will be difficult to teach it to everybody and Americans think that if there different they are better

Answer 9

because that has been or standard of measurement for 200 years

Answer 10

Although the official system is meter-kilogram-second system but they frequently use the foot-pound-second system.