14:26 Jun 28, 2011 

we are becoming more and more metrical, even in football. Evidence: Tottenham fans call Peter Crouch "Two Metre Peter". Or is that just because it rhymes?

And whatever we use, we all understand metric, except for the very old.

10:00 Jun 28, 2011 

As a question: wouldn't you be more likely to use acres for property (such as farmland) and smaller areas, but sq m for larger areas? E.g. wouldn't you say a national park is spread over 42 sq m rather than 26,880 acres?

As for the core issue, people in the UK seem to have taken to certain metric measurements more than others. I think ºFahrenheit went out of use years ago. I'm also a regular user of UK sports forums where most users are quite young and I've noticed an increasing tendency to use metres rather than feet. Even in football, where there are standard expressions such as the 6- or 18-yard box and people would traditionally say someone shot from 30 yards out, more and more people seem to be saying 30 metres instead. I also noticed an increasing trend towards using the metric system in my latest trip to London last month.
In this particular case I'd probably choose imperial, but depending on the number of references in the text, I might consider providing metric measurements followed by imperial measurements in brackets, and if I had significant time restraints I'd probably just leave the metric figures.

08:30 Jun 28, 2011 

Yes, I was just reinforcing the impression the asker will already have got that this whole measurements business in the UK is a minefield, if not a dog's breakfast!

08:23 Jun 28, 2011 

My students love all this in classes.....

08:22 Jun 28, 2011 

I have stated the same as you several times now....maybe you express it better than me!
Belon in my answer I state that it is typical for mountains to be given in metres, and I provide examples as well.....almost nobody (who hasn't had a European or other foreign influence) uses km for distances, but yes the metre for short distances/heights of buildings etc.

08:15 Jun 28, 2011 

In the UK, response to this very much depends on the age group. Most younger people are more familiar with metres than their elders. Most are familiar with both. When it comes to kilometres, square or otherwise, there is greater resistance and most people still use miles, and road distances are given in miles. Square miles and acres are also still most familiar. But mountains are often referred to in metres these days even among the general public. The situation is fluid.

08:13 Jun 28, 2011 

Your ref is for kilometres and square kilometres and it only states that government topographers, engineers, road builders etc. use the km. Everyday people use, feet, yard and mile and that includes the acre (220 yards x 22 yards an ancient fuedal measurement still in use today when you purchase property) and the square mile. I am a scientist and I've been taught to use the correct international convetions but this is not a science paper, the target audience are UK journalists therefore I would use old (currently in use) UK measurements.

07:33 Jun 28, 2011 

Pero, ¿no será más cómodo para ellos leerlo en "feet" si es la unidad de longitud que usan habitualmente?

07:28 Jun 28, 2011 

By experience I suppose they will know very well what you are talking about without expecting you to make the change into feet!