Laurence Payne wrote:
On Sun, 20 Aug 2006 17:48:42 +0100, Rob
wrote:

"Watts per hour" isn't quite what you mean, I suspect :-)
Er, it was! Have I misunderstood something - wouldn't be the first/last
time :-)

I mean he consumes 400 Watts of electricity in one hour. Stand corrected
awaits ...
Not quite. He consumes 400 watts FOR one hour.
Ah - I think 'per' means 'for each' (the OP's intent of continuous
background), then I changed to average consumption ('in', an
abbreviation of 'within', thinking that was what you were driving at).
Unless you have a better definition of 'per' and 'in' I'll stick with my
original(s).

No, don't. You'll just sound ignorant.


Um - per means 'for each', unless you have a more accurate definition.
You told me to use 'for', or 'FOR', in the first place. Each means every
one of more. Don't mean to patronise ...

Even if I haven't explained it very well, "watts per hour" is as
scientifically illiterate as "gallons per second per second". (OK,
that could measure a rate of acceleration of flow. Another poor
explanation :-)

I'd be happier with 'imprecise', rather than 'ignorant' or
'scientifically illiterate'. The important point is that most people
would understand what I meant.

Rob