metric tons

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "metric tons" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is a unit of measurement for weight, equivalent to 1,000 kilograms. You can use "metric tons" when discussing large quantities of weight, particularly in industries such as manufacturing, shipping, or agriculture. For example: - The factory produces 5 metric tons of steel per day. - The ship can carry up to 20 metric tons of cargo. - The farm harvested 100 metric tons of corn this season.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is 130 metric tons.

The Washington Post

In billions of metric tons, 2011.

The New York Times

Europe has over 10m metric tons and America around 4m metric tons of biodiesel capacity.

The Economist

Estimates vary widely, from 100 million metric tons to perhaps 500 million metric tons.

The New York Times

China produced 7.5 metric tons and India produced 1.7 metric tons.

The Washington Post

The total Galician harvest was 334 metric tons last year.

The New York Times - Food

(Derrickson expected Merck to need "several metric tons" a year).

The New Yorker

Over 100 metric tons of steel almost fill the space.

The Guardian - Arts

The imports totaled 326,000 metric tons, not 326.

The New York Times

Generating that power emits 1.9 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

The New York Times

It is 200,000 metric tons, not 200 million tons.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For technical documents, always use the abbreviation "MT" in parentheses after the first full mention of "metric tons" for clarity and conciseness.

Common error

Avoid interchanging "metric tons" with "short tons" or "long tons." A metric ton is 1,000 kilograms, while a short ton is 907.185 kilograms and a long ton is 1,016.05 kilograms. Always specify the unit clearly to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "metric tons" functions primarily as a unit of measurement to quantify mass. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it is frequently used to describe substantial amounts, as shown in the examples relating to emissions, production outputs, and shipping capacities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "metric tons" is a standard unit of mass measurement, equivalent to 1,000 kilograms, commonly used in various professional and academic fields. As Ludwig AI notes, it is grammatically sound and frequently employed in contexts such as news reports, scientific papers, and business documents. The phrase is highly versatile, functioning primarily to quantify substantial amounts. Its spelling variant "tonnes" is considered synonymous. When using "metric tons", be sure to differentiate it from "short tons" and "long tons" to avoid confusion. According to Ludwig, this will assure clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tonnes

This is a synonym for metric tons, offering a slight variation in spelling preference.

mass in metric tons

Emphasizes that you are quantifying the mass using metric tons.

weight measured in metric tons

Highlights that the weight is quantified in metric tons.

millions of kilograms

This alternative breaks down the metric ton into its base unit, providing a different perspective on the quantity.

thousands of tonnes

This phrase re-scales the measurement while maintaining the metric system base, suitable when dealing with very large quantities.

a quantity of metric tons

General phrase to emphasize any quantity measure in the unit 'metric tons'.

millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent

Specifies the equivalent amount in tonnes of CO2, frequently used in carbon emission reports.

gigatonnes

Represents a billion metric tons; suitable for extremely large quantities.

deadweight tonnage

Specifically refers to the carrying capacity of a ship, measured in metric tons.

volume expressed in metric tons

Applies when converting from volume to mass, using metric tons as the final unit.

FAQs

What exactly does "metric tons" measure?

"Metric tons" measure mass, specifically 1,000 kilograms or approximately 2,204.62 pounds. It's commonly used for large quantities of goods or emissions.

How do I abbreviate "metric tons"?

The standard abbreviations for "metric tons" are "t", "MT", or "tonne". Use the abbreviation consistently within the document for clarity.

When should I use "metric tons" instead of other units of weight?

Use "metric tons" when dealing with large quantities in international contexts, especially in industries like shipping, manufacturing, and environmental science. For smaller quantities, consider using kilograms or grams. In some regions like the United States you might need to convert to imperial units, like "short tons".

What is the difference between "metric tons" and "tonnes"?

"Metric tons" and "tonnes" are the same unit of measurement; "tonne" is simply an alternative spelling. Both refer to 1,000 kilograms.