Definition Gage and Gauge - Difference between the terms

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Bubba

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Gage or Gauge - What is the difference by definition?

This is a nagging question for me that really has no importance other than satisfying my curiosity. In the relatively short time that I have been involved with metrology I have noticed two spellings for the same word: gage and gauge. Are these both correct in every circumstance and completely interchangeable, or are there specific instances where one spelling should be favored over the other? Like I said, it really isn't important, but I am curious.
 
A

Al Dyer

Industry vernacular = gage
Webster says gauge


In all respects the same.
 
A

Atul Khandekar

According to The Columbia Guide to Standard American English,
" ...Gage is a variant of gauge, but apparently in dwindling use..."

For some reason I always thought 'Gage' was an American spelling of the 'English' Gauge. ;)

I have generally seen 'gage/gauge' used to mean an attribute measuring device (GO/NO-GO gage etc.). A variable characteristic is measured with an 'Instrument' (such as a Vernier, micrometer ...).

- Atul.
 
J

jfgunn

Can one of the many metrologists who often post things here tell me the difference between a "gauge" and a "gage"?

I see the two as completely interchangeable. Is there a proper or improper way to use either?

Also, if this thread should be moved to a forum for the truly nitpicky, please move. Thank you!
 

Jim Wynne

Leader
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jfgunn said:
Can one of the many metrologists who often post things here tell me the difference between a "gauge" and a "gage"?

I see the two as completely interchangeable. Is there a proper or improper way to use either?

Also, if this thread should be moved to a forum for the truly nitpicky, please move. Thank you!

"Gage" is a variant spelling of "gauge" and the two may be used interchangeably. In general, variants aren't used in formal writing, but in this case I think the distinction is moot. There are some usages where "gauge" is the more accepted form (such as when describing the distance between railroad rails).
 

Hershal

Metrologist-Auditor
Trusted Information Resource
Jim is correct, the main difference in practical use in metrology is spelling.....

To add to that, gauge can also be a verb, as in to gauge.......

Hershal
 
R

RosieA

jfgunn, I have to laugh! My Quality Engineer and I have had this same discussion several times! We attributed it to illiteracy! :lol:
 

AndyN

Moved On
Oh, yes there's a difference..........

a 'gage' is sweet, juicy and makes great preserves..........on the other hand, you wouldn't want to put a gauge on bread.........:lol:

A gage is a plum-like fruit, grown in England..........;)

Andy
 
R

RosieA

AndyN said:
a 'gage' is sweet, juicy and makes great preserves..........on the other hand, you wouldn't want to put a gauge on bread.........:lol:

A gage is a plum-like fruit, grown in England..........;)

Andy

Ahhh, the things you learn at The Cove!
 

Wes Bucey

Prophet of Profit
No "I" in team;
No "U" in gage

Makes sense to me!;)

What's next?
wait for weight? How about W8?
mike for micrometer?
decal for decalcomania?

On a serious note: this is a topic that arises frequently. There is no shame in asking the question. Here's one response which struck me as "interesting."

(http://asuwlink.uwyo.edu/~metal/gage.html)
What does "gage" (or "gauge") mean?
Dictionaries (at least in the US) seem to consider "gage" to be an alternate spelling of "gauge". But common usage suggests "gage" refers to sheet metal thickness, gage blocks, and most concrete measurement systems and devices. "Gauge" seems to refer to pressure gauges and level gauges. Comparing Machinery's Ready Reference, Machinery's Handbook, and the MSC catalog, there is no agreement on "wire gage" versus "wire gauge". Time seems to have corrupted any clear distinction, and things are most likely different in England and other places.

So my particular preference is to only use "gauge" for devices that measure more abstract things like pressure and level.

Gage: An arbitrary assignment of numbers to size, used on sheet, wire, and many other things (tubing, shotgun bore, needles, and so on). Unfortunately there are so many different standards that using gage to specify a material is almost useless, and perhaps even dangerous. If in doubt, use decimals.

For example, in U.S. gage, the standard for sheet metal is based on the weight of the metal, not on the thickness. 16-gage is listed as approximately .0625 inch thick and 40 ounces per square foot (the original standard was based on wrought iron at .2778 pounds per cubic inch; steel has almost entirely superseded wrought iron for sheet use, at .2833 pounds per cubic inch). Smaller numbers refer to greater thickness. There is no formula for converting gage to thickness or weight.

Wire might be specified in American or Browne & Sharpe, Birmingham or Stubs, Washburn & Moen, Trenton Iron Co., Stubs' Steel, Imperial Wire gage, music wire gauge, or others. In the US, I've commonly seen electrical wire in AWG (American Wire Gauge); even-numbered values are much more common than odd ones. As an example, 12-gauge wire is .081" (AWG), .109" (Birmingham or Stubs), .105" (Washburn & Moen), .028" (music wire gauge). In most cases a larger gauge means smaller wire, except music wire goes the other way around!

If you need specific values for specific gages, many are listed in various references such as Machinery's Handbook.

On September 20, 1994, Rowland Carson posted a nice list of most of the gauge systems in use worldwide:
Alhoff & Muller Music Wire Gauge . . . . . . . music wire
American Screw & Wire Co Music Wire Gauge . . . . . . . music wire, spring wire
American Zinc Gauge . . . . . . . zinc sheet
ASA B32.1 . . . . . . . uncoated thin flat metals USA
Birmingham Gauge BG . . . . . . . iron hoop & strip, steel sheet
Birmingham Wire Gauge BWG . . . . . . . iron & steel telephone wire
Birmingham Wire Gauge for Silver & Gold . . . . . . . silver & gold
Brown & Sharpe Wire Gauge B & S . . . . . . . non-ferrous sheet & strip
Brunton Music Wire Gauge . . . . . . . music wire
Card Wire Gauge CWG . . . . . . . fibre yarns
Continental Zinc Gauge . . . . . . . sheet & strip
English Music Wire Gauge . . . . . . . music wire
English Zinc Wire Gauge . . . . . . . zinc sheet
Felten & Guilleame Music Wire Gauge . . . . . . . music wire
German Sheet Gauge . . . . . . . sheet metal
Instrument Wire Gauge . . . . . . . instrument wire
ISO Metric Preferred Series (R388) . . . . . . . all applications
Junge de Paris . . . . . . . copper wires
Lancashire Pinion Wire Gauge LPG . . . . . . . cast steel drill rods
Mathieson & Hegeler Gauge M & H . . . . . . . zinc sheet
Millimetre Wire Gauge . . . . . . . steel wire
National Wire Gauge NWG . . . . . . . steel wire
Poehlimann Music Wire Gauge . . . . . . . music wire
Printers Wire Gauge . . . . . . . printers wire
Roebling Wire Gauge . . . . . . . steel wire
Sewing & Darning Needle Series . . . . . . . sewing & darning needles
Standard Wire Gauge SWG . . . . . . . wire & strip, tube thickness
Stitching Wire Gauge
Stubs Iron WIre Gauge . . . . . . . iron wire
Stubs Steel Wire Gauge . . . . . . . steel drill rod
Tinplate . . . . . . . finished tinplate
Twist Drill & Steel Wire Gauge . . . . . . . drill rod
US Galvanised Sheet Gauge GSG . . . . . . . galvanised sheet
US Manufacturers' Standard Gauge MSG i . . . . . . . ron & steel sheets & plates
US Standard Gauge USG . . . . . . . stainless steel
US Steel Wire Gauge USSWG . . . . . . . steel wire
Washburn & Moen Gauge WG . . . . . . . steel wire
Warrington Wire Gauge . . . . . . . steel wire
Yorkshire Wire Gauge . . . . . . . steel wire
 
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