Words / B2

TUN/tʌn/

A tonne is 1,000 kilograms (British spelling of the metric ton): a tonne of steel; carbon in tonnes. A UK ton (imperial) is different; ton is also informal for “a lot”. Quote tonnes in the emissions table, not “loads”. Mix-up: tone / town / tun. Do not mix tonne and imperial ton in one graph without a note.

Meaning

A metric unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms (British spelling).

Examples

• “Quote carbon in tonnes in the emissions table, not “loads”.”
• “A tonne is 1,000 kg; do not swap it for an imperial ton on the same axis.”

Good to know

a tonne of; in tonnes; metric tonne. Informal “a lot”: a ton of. Trap: tone. Geography, science, and news. 1,000 kg (UK spelling), not a vague heap.

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