As the title says, I suggest the use of metric units (except where it makes sense. F. E. the use of chinese units in historical novels) since they are used in all but a few backward thinking nations.
And since the translations are made for an international audience it is only fair. Most of us can't relate to feet, pound or miles.
And if you are to proud to use it, at least put the converted unit as a translator note.
Use metric system instead of imperial/other
It barely affect the novel. Specially on IETs novels.
bachingchung But... but I need to know if the thing is 100.000.000.000.000.000 km away or 100.000.000.000.000.000 miles.
- Edited
Who really cares about measurements? If you really need to know, look them up:
http://www.calculator.net/conversion-calculator.html
Writers should write however it makes them comfortable.
If they use some really some obscure measurement, for example, traditional Chinese measurements, it's helpful to footnote them.
I have 80 Mu of land 500 li away. In order to reach it I must travel 2 fathoms to my flying sword, which flies at an altitude of 9 furlongs. If the journey takes 3000 jiffies, and it takes 3 morgens to plow my land, after how many New York minutes will I finish my chores?
Answer is:
Honks approaching infinity
How many megafonzies of cool was this post?
I don't mind Either way I just want them to use one system through the whole novel. I think it was a problem in venerated venomous consort? It's really weird when you read about historical/fantasy setting and they say something costs dollars.... Also read another novel where I think they switched the system between chapters.
3vilCookie I have 80 Mu of land 500 li away.
In which period of Li are we talking? As late as the 1940s, a "li" did not represent a fixed measure but could be longer or shorter depending on the effort required to cover the distance.
We need facts man!
If you are thinking about exaggerated numbers, sure, it doesn't matter. But there is a difference between 100 feet and 100 meter, or between 100kg or 100lb. There are novels that are placed in more or less realistic worlds. And btw. the use of dollar in place of yuan is really infuriating. There is big value difference between these.