: Re: If I'm writing in US English, am I not allowed to use the metric system? For example, can I say this if my book is written in US English (in non-dialog): The car was going at least

@Bryan361

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Best to avoid it, I am quite comfortable with both units but seeing that would take me out of the story instantly.

Does the show not tell rule solve your problem?

"The car cleared the stretch of road in just a few seconds."
"The car stretching its highest gear"
"The car lifted from the road as it came over the hill top"
"The car dangerously tilted as it attacked the corner"
"The air wave of the car struck him back as it passed"
"The birds burst from their hedgerows unused to the cars speed"

If you do want to state the distance then you could have an Imperial system using character as an audience surrogate,

"140 kmh! What is that?" John thought calculating quickly, not much below 90 miles, but still faster than he thought he could stop in that distance."

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