After observing that the prefixes used in the SI system are derived from variations of the word "small" in various Greek, Latin, and other languages, we wondered what the prefixes would be if scientists were only allowed to use English words. We present the Really Very Ultra (RVU) System
We will begin with larger powers of units. The word "big" comes to mind first. We will demonstrate this using meters. Kilometers would be "big meters". Due to the scarcity of the synonyms in English, the next level, megameters would become "really big meters." This is followed by "very big meters" and "ultra big meters."
The next level going up is "large meters," because large is bigger than big. This can be remembered by thinking that telling a kid he is a big kid is nice, but telling him he is a large kid means he is probably bigger than a big kid. After "large meters," are "really large meters," "very large meters," and "ultra large meters."
For smaller units, we begin with "small meters," which are equivalent to millimeters. Then there are "really small meters," "very small meters," "ultra small meters," "tiny meters," "really tiny meters," "very tiny meters," and "ultra tiny meters."
Like the SI system, the RVU system does not forsee any smaller or larger prefixes needed. Clearly, the RVU system is useable by all those who feel English should be the universal language, ignoring the origins of the English language, or who disagree with the ubiquity of Greek and Latin in the sciences.
