Illustration of a student measuring their height in centimeters

Debate photos courtesy of families; Shutterstock.com (all other images)

Should the U.S. Switch to the Metric System?

March 14, 2022

In the U.S., miles mark the distance on a road trip. Cups measure ingredients for baking, and inches show how tall you’ve grown. These measures, known as U.S. customary units, are part of the imperial system of measurement.

But most countries use the metric system, which includes units such as meters, liters, and grams. In fact, the U.S. is one of only three countries that hasn’t adopted the metric system. In 1975, Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act to try to get Americans to make the switch, but the metric system has never fully caught on.

Some people say it’s time for a change. They point out that metric units are used in fields such as science and medicine. They also note that the metric system is less confusing because it is based on units of 10. For example, 1,000 grams equals 1 kilogram. In the U.S. system, 16 ounces equals 1 pound.

But others argue that it would be difficult for an entire country to learn a new way to measure.

Here’s what two of our readers think.

We should use the metric system, like most of the world does. Measurements should be universal so everybody can follow them, no matter where they live. It can be confusing to make conversions like miles to kilometers when you travel.

The U.S. military, NASA scientists, and doctors throughout the U.S. already use the metric system. The measurements are more exact, which leads to fewer mistakes. Plus, it’s simpler. Isn’t it easier to remember that water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius than at 32 degrees Fahrenheit?

There’s an old saying: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Our current system of measurement works just fine, and getting rid of it would be too difficult. People would need to learn a whole new way to measure, and making the switch would cost billions of dollars. Think about it: Every mile marker, speed limit sign, and food label in the United States would have to be changed.

Also, not using the metric system is one of the things that makes America unique. There’s nothing wrong with being different.