English units

File:English Length Units Graph.svg

English_Length_Units_Graph

File:English mass units graph.svg

English_mass_units_graph

English units are a system of measurement that was used in England prior to the adoption of the metric system. These units are still used in some contexts in the United Kingdom and the United States. The system includes units for length, area, volume, and mass, among others.

History

The English units have their origins in the Anglo-Saxon period and were standardized by various monarchs over the centuries. The system was formalized in the Weights and Measures Act 1824 and later refined by the Weights and Measures Act 1878.

Units of Length

The primary units of length in the English system include:

• Inch (in)
• Foot (ft)
• Yard (yd)
• Mile (mi)

Units of Area

The units of area include:

• Square inch (sq in)
• Square foot (sq ft)
• Square yard (sq yd)
• Acre

Units of Volume

The units of volume include:

• Fluid ounce (fl oz)
• Pint (pt)
• Quart (qt)
• Gallon (gal)

Units of Mass

The units of mass include:

• Ounce (oz)
• Pound (lb)
• Stone (st)
• Ton (long ton)

Current Usage

While the metric system is the standard in most countries, English units are still used in the United States for many applications, including construction, real estate, and personal body measurements. In the United Kingdom, the metric system is officially used, but some English units are still in common use, particularly for road distances (miles) and body weight (stones and pounds).

Related Pages

• Metric system
• Imperial units
• Weights and Measures Act 1824
• Weights and Measures Act 1878
• United States customary units

See Also

• Measurement
• History of measurement
• Conversion of units

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