Talk:Grammage

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Technology

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Typography Low‑importance

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Origin of the respective systems[edit]

It seems more or less evident that grams per square metre is used because it gives a clear and unambiguous answer in well-known units (at the cost of either an error-prone calculation or specialized equipment), and that pounds basis weight is used because it can be directly and reliably measured with widely-available low-tech equipment (at the cost of being expressed in ambiguous and peculiar units).

Is there more history behind the two paper-weighing systems than just that? Or is that the whole story? It certainly isn't just metric vs non-metric, because the two methods of weighing paper each work the way they work regardless of how the final result is expressed; kilograms basis weight or ounces per square yard are possible but not used. TooManyFingers (talk) 15:23, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Blame the US. If they came into line with the rest of the world this problem, such as it is, would go away, and the world would be a better place. -Roxy the dog. wooF 15:34, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I wasn't looking for anyone to blame for anything, I was looking for the real story of how the two methods in current use became the standards they now are. I do blame the US for not adopting the clearly superior paper *dimensions* used everywhere else, but the weights thing has far less importance - unless you're in the paper business. TooManyFingers (talk) 00:41, 20 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]