• ZealousSealion
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    5 months ago

    If I were to write a programme where it would be typical to choose between units of measurement, which I’m not, the drop down menu would have a choice of “SI units” and “fuck no, you don’t get to choose!”

    • ancap shark@lemmy.today
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      5 months ago

      Programme?

      Edit: I looked it up, it’s a British thing. I’m not a native speaker, I’ve never seen it written like that. It looks French, I thought you guys hated the French.

      • Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk
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        5 months ago

        We actually use program for computer programs, but programme for a programe of events. We like to be irregular.

            • el_abuelo@lemmy.ml
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              5 months ago

              Better is subjective. If one measured the merits of the language on its rich cultural history, then British (as usual) wins. However, if it’s measured by accessibility for simpletons then the US (as usual) wins.

              • KrankyKong@lemmy.world
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                5 months ago

                Are you suggesting that US English isn’t derived from British English? Or are you specifically talking about the history over the last couple hundred years? The US isn’t that old, and also has a rich cultural history…

                Maybe an example of how Britain’s rich cultural history has better shaped the language is in order.

      • hakase@lemm.ee
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        5 months ago

        Almost half of all English words are borrowed from French, dating from when England was colonized and culturally subjugated by the Norman French starting in 1066.

        • ancap shark@lemmy.today
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          5 months ago

          I’m aware. I just find it funny that some British words like “centre” and “colour” look more French than the US counterpart

      • ZealousSealion
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        5 months ago

        Fun fact: J’aime la France, but I’m neither French, nor British. I just try to emulate my spoken pronunciation in my writing.

    • Thief_of_Crows@lemmy.ml
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      5 months ago

      For most people the imperial system is better. Fahrenheit puts 0-100 in relation to how humans feel heat, 0 is very cold, 100 is very hot, neither will kill you if you take minor precautions. Feet are the same, most everyday objects are spread across 0-10 feet long/tall. Using celsius and meters requires using a scale between -18 and 38, and a scale between 0 and 3.3. Both are clearly inferior number ranges to use when we arent required to.