# Pounds or kilos. Why is the UK still using stones? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 23, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410 "2007-02-23T18:01:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/1 "2007-02-23T18:01:09Z")
Minor rant that is not Pit worthy (until a bunch of pissed off Brits start attacking me). I just read this [article](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=437998&in_page_id=1774) and I got to wondering: Hey England! WTF is wrong with using the accepted standards of weight measurement? Sure the US is the oddball in the world by insisting on using pounds and ounces so maybe you don’t want to do that. But England has been using the metric system for ages. They all know what a kilogram is so why do they insist on using some antiquated unit of measure. Do they plan on describing the size of a building in cubits next? How about they start describing the mass of something in terms of mina and talents? Look, I understand that Shaw was right in many respects > [@](#): > > England and America are two countries separated by a common language. but is it really necessary to confuse matters further? I love your country, think your sense of humor (or as you insist on calling it, “humour”) is hilarious, and your cuisine is… did I mention that I love your country? But come on already! Stick with metric and get rid of your stones (that doesn’t sound right, but you know what I mean). ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/2 "2007-02-23T18:10:03Z")
I don’t think we’re quite as metric as you seem to think we are! Anyway 1 stone = 14 pounds so it’s about as daft a unit as pounds and ounces anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/3 "2007-02-23T18:16:07Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] I don’t think we’re quite as metric as you seem to think we are! Anyway 1 stone = 14 pounds so it’s about as daft a unit as pounds and ounces anyway. [/QUOTE] I had read that it 1 stone = 16 pounds. AAAGGHHH! Well I’ll raise a pint to you later. Or a half liter. Or a dram. Screw it. I’ll just get drunk. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/4 "2007-02-23T18:23:53Z")
I shall draw myself up to my full six feet one inch, and walk my fifteen stones the quarter-mile to my local and have a pint later. Unfortunately our quarter-gills no longer exist, so I’ll likely have a couple of 35ml. Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/5 "2007-02-23T18:27:42Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] **Why is the UK still using stones?** [/QUOTE] They still make money touring? (I’m not sure that it is possible to refine Heroine pure enough to kill Keith Richards…) ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/6 "2007-02-23T19:30:05Z")
Perhaps it’s because 10 stones sounds like less than 140 pounds. Another possibility is that the Brits use “pound” with another meaning, as a quality of money, so they will tend to use pound as a unit of weight less if they can help it. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/7 "2007-02-23T19:36:27Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] They all know what a kilogram is so why do they insist on using some antiquated unit of measure? [/QUOTE] You’d be surprised - I’d guess that most British people wouldn’t know their own weight in kilos (or pounds). In many contexts Imperial units are still the norm. Bodily measuremnts, large distances, fuel consumption (even though petrol is sold by the litre), commercial real estate (still quoted in square feet), lots of things. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/8 "2007-02-23T19:45:09Z")
Hijack: Which is correct, and which is more common? “I weigh 8 stone” or “I weigh 8 stones”? I’m fairly certain that the second one is grammatically correct, but I don’t recall ever hearing it phrased that way when I was in the UK. Then again, if I’m recalling correctly, the British English sort of does it’s own thing when it comes to verb/noun pluralizations… ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/9 "2007-02-23T19:46:37Z")
[QUOTE=Count Blucher] (I’m not sure that it is possible to refine Heroine pure enough to kill Keith Richards…) [/QUOTE] What about Joan of Arc? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/10 "2007-02-23T19:51:11Z")
If a unit is a common usage, then it can’t be described as ‘antiquated’. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/11 "2007-02-23T19:53:28Z")
[QUOTE=NinjaChick] Hijack: Which is correct, and which is more common? “I weigh 8 stone” or “I weigh 8 stones”? I’m fairly certain that the second one is grammatically correct, but I don’t recall ever hearing it phrased that way when I was in the UK. [/QUOTE] Stone. Measurement, where it matters (in science, engineering, architecture and medicine) it’s SI units all the way and has been for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/12 "2007-02-23T19:59:24Z")
With temperatures Celsius is becoming much more of a norm that it was ten or twenty years ago, but it’s still common for newspapers to use Fahrenheit on the front page when we’re having one of our periodic “heatwaves”. Cold temps are always Celsius though. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/13 "2007-02-23T20:08:45Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] With temperatures Celsius is becoming much more of a norm that it was ten or twenty years ago, but it’s still common for newspapers to use Fahrenheit on the front page when we’re having one of our periodic “heatwaves”. Cold temps are always Celsius though. [/QUOTE] How do the kids get it straight in school? Use Celsius when it’s cold but Fahrenheit when it’s hot. Use stone when referring to a person’s weight but kilos when weighing other objects. Square feet for real estate but kilometers on the highway. Buy a pint at the pub and a liter (or litre) at the petrol station. I realize that presently you cannot use pounds as a unit of measurement because it also refers to currency but, should you ever convert to the Euro (I know, sacrilege) it would become a moot point. Has there ever been a call to standardize everything to one system or create a dual labeling system like they have in Canada? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/14 "2007-02-23T20:17:12Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] How do the kids get it straight in school? Use Celsius when it’s cold but Fahrenheit when it’s hot. Use stone when referring to a person’s weight but kilos when weighing other objects. Square feet for real estate but kilometers on the highway. Buy a pint at the pub and a liter (or litre) at the petrol station. [/QUOTE] I don’t know how it’s taught to kids nowadays, but for me back in the 70’s we were taught both temperature scales and I must admit to using them in the way you describe - but that’s personal preference and I can’t really explain it. We were also taught both the imperial and metric measures for weight, height etc. I guess kids only then have to learn which set to use in different circumstances. This doesn’t seem too much of a complication. Note we use miles for road distances and speeds. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/15 "2007-02-23T20:21:50Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] I realize that presently you cannot use pounds as a unit of measurement because it also refers to currency but, should you ever convert to the Euro (I know, sacrilege) it would become a moot point. Has there ever been a call to standardize everything to one system or create a dual labeling system like they have in Canada? [/QUOTE] Pounds can still used for weight (I think legally), although everything has to be labelled in kilograms. There have been calls for a completely metric system, but I can’t see the remaining popular imperial measurements dissapeaing anytime soon. In particular, converting to kms would be a major hassle and expense for little benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/16 "2007-02-23T20:40:35Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] How do the kids get it straight in school? [/QUOTE] I was a schoolkid in the 70s and I don’t remember being taught about non-metric units, except Fahrenheit which back then was as widely used as Celsius. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/17 "2007-02-23T20:53:14Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] How do the kids get it straight in school? Use Celsius when it’s cold but Fahrenheit when it’s hot. Use stone when referring to a person’s weight but kilos when weighing other objects. Square feet for real estate but kilometers on the highway. Buy a pint at the pub and a liter (or litre) at the petrol station. [/QUOTE] But you don’t get taught this kind of thing at school. An 80s kid, I don’t even recall being taught Fahrenheit. Working out how much weight you want to lose in January, or how fast you are over the speed limit, or whatever, are real-life skills relevant to specific situations, and you acquire them as such. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/18 "2007-02-23T21:00:09Z")
What I’m wondering is what are your home scales like? Are they actually marked off in ‘stone’ or are they marked in pounds and you do the conversion? Or are there both? [QUOTE=erie774] or create a dual labeling system like they have in Canada? [/QUOTE] How do you mean? We don’t have dual labels on products. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/19 "2007-02-23T21:08:11Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] What I’m wondering is what are your home scales like? Are they actually marked off in ‘stone’ or are they marked in pounds and you do the conversion? Or are there both? [/QUOTE] Mine are electronic, with a three-way switch to select kilos, pounds, or stone+lbs. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410/20 "2007-02-23T21:09:23Z")
They are marked in stones. My scales have a digital display with two options, stones or kilograms. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pounds-or-kilos-why-is-the-uk-still-using-stones/393410.md?page=2)