In Britain, two different scales are commonly used for measuring temperature. On the Celsius (formerly Centigrade) scale, water freezes at zero degrees and boils at 100 degrees. On the Fahrenheit scale, water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. Celsius is the scale which is officially used for talking about the weather. Fahrenheit is considered more old-fashioned, but is still widely used. In the United States, the Fahrenheit scale is almost always used. If you want to emphasize how cold it is, you are more likely to use Celsius, as the numbers are lower. Conversely, if you want to emphasize how warm it is, you are more likely to use Fahrenheit. The first of the following examples shows a temperature in Celsius and the second shows a temperature in Fahrenheit. The temperature has been down to minus seven... With temperatures in the 70s, sun lovers have been flocking to resorts.

在英国，测量温度普遍采用两种不同的标准。根据摄氏温标（以前称 Centigrade），水 0 度结冰，100 度沸腾;根据华氏温标，水 32 度结冰，212 度沸腾。正式谈论天气时使用摄氏温标。华氏温标被认为较为过时，不过使用仍很广泛。在美国，几乎总是用华氏温标。要想强调天冷，更有可能用摄氏温标，因为摄氏温标表示出的温度更低。相反，如果强调暖和，更可能用华氏温标。以下例子第一个用了摄氏度数，第二个用了华氏度数：The temperature has been down to minus seven (温度已经降到零下7度)，With temperatures in the 70s, sun lovers have been flocking to resorts (温度达到七十多度，喜爱阳光的人纷纷涌向度假胜地)。