- Question
Which is better - imperial or metric?
Imperial or metric — which system of measurement is better? This entry sets out the two positions in the long-running debate — that the imperial system is better, and that the metric system is the superior one.
Position 1 of 2
Read this position →The imperial system is better than the metric system
This position holds that imperial measures are the better system, on the grounds that their units grew out of everyday human use and divide conveniently for hand work, and that replacing a familiar system costs more than the tidiness it buys.
Position 2 of 2
Read this position →The metric system is better than the imperial system
This position holds that metric is the better system because its units scale by powers of ten and share one definition everywhere, so converting is arithmetic rather than memory and a measurement means the same thing to whoever receives it.