Billions and billions... ;-)

Hi Axel,

http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Long_scale#UK_usage

...says the UK has used the short scale (billion=10^9) "for many years".

I'd agree: I'm 42, and I remember there was a brief attempt to
popularise the "milliard" as a counter to the invading (small) US
"billion" when I was young. But that never really caught on, and I've
noted throughout my life that there have been stated changes (by the
BBC, government, the press, etc.) to the short scale billion as the
method of choice.

Some of the conservative press was using the long scale billion quite
late on, but I'm absolutely sure none of them do any more.

That said, there can be a popular misconception - billion does suggest 2
lots of millions, as in 10^12... :-|

Andy G