Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2024 August 21

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August 21

Two types of units

1. Are cup, metric teaspoon and tablespoon used in recipes in most continental European countries? Are non-liquid things ever measures in these units?
2. Why screen sizes for smartphones, tablets, computers and TVs are usually measured in inches, even in mostly metric countries?

--40bus (talk) 18:29, 21 August 2024 (UTC)

Re 1. In the UK, it was common to measure liquids in teaspoons, tablespoons and cups (all standard volumes), and to measure granular solids such as sugar in both 'level' and 'heaped' tea- and tablespoons, and flour (for example) in cups (usually not heaped). Fluid ounces and (where applicable) pints and other fractions of pints (a UK pint being 20 fl. oz.) were also used: it depended on the preferences of the recipe writer. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 94.1.209.45 (talk) 00:28, 22 August 2024 (UTC)

Re 2. Marketing of consumer electronics products is influenced by the major market of the USA where inches is a customary unit. Philvoids (talk) 11:09, 23 August 2024 (UTC)

I don't know about most continental European countries, but a quick browse to the recipe of the day on chefkoch.de shows some ingredients, including chopped parsley, measured in spoons (EL (Esslöffel) and TL (Teelöffel) (sizes discussed in German Wikipedia here)).

Likewise, a tabbouleh recipe on French site marmiton.org has parsley measured by the soupspoon. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 10:56, 27 August 2024 (UTC)