{"id":471,"date":"2009-01-06T12:00:58","date_gmt":"2009-01-06T18:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kirkmahoney.com\/blog\/2009\/01\/calorie-vs-calorie\/"},"modified":"2011-05-31T19:57:12","modified_gmt":"2011-06-01T01:57:12","slug":"calorie-vs-calorie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kirkmahoney.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2009\/01\/calorie-vs-calorie\/","title":{"rendered":"“Calorie” vs. “calorie”"},"content":{"rendered":"

I often see these two words used interchangeably.<\/p>\n

Problem:<\/strong>
\nThese two nouns are not<\/em> synonyms.<\/p>\n

Explanation:<\/strong>
\nIdentical pronunciation of these two nouns makes them homophones<\/a>, as noted at Wikipedia.<\/p>\n

The word “calorie” — with a lowercase “c” — means an amount of heat equal to 4.184 joules<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In case you do not remember your basic physics, one “joule” refers to the work done by a force of one newton acts through a distance of one meter<\/em> or to the current of one ampere passed for one second through a resistance of one ohm<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The word “Calorie” — with a capital “C” — means 1000 calories (with a lowercase “c”)<\/em>, also known as a “kilocalorie” (also with a lowercase “c”).<\/p>\n

The common English blunder is to write “Calorie” — with a capital “C” — as “calorie” — with a lowercase “c” — when referring to the energy value of a food item.<\/p>\n

For example, a “2000-calories-per-day diet” — with a lowercase “c” — would provide almost no energy and might have been suitable for Mahatma Gandhi<\/a> when he was on a hunger strike.<\/p>\n

Aside: I recently saw a beautifully shot movie titled “Water”<\/a> that weaves Gandhi into a story set in India. The story was fascinating and touching, and the acting was excellent. I highly recommend it!<\/em><\/p>\n

In contrast, a “2000-Calories-per-day diet” — with a capital “C” — would be on the order of magnitude of what many adults require to maintain their body weights.<\/p>\n

Solution:<\/strong>
\nRemember that capital “C” is larger than lowercase “c”, just as “Calorie” with a capital “C” is larger — in fact, one thousand times larger — than “calorie” with a lowercase or small “c”. When referring to the energy value of food, use “Calorie” with a capital “C”.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I often see these two words used interchangeably. Problem: These two nouns are not synonyms. Explanation: Identical pronunciation of these two nouns makes them homophones, as noted at Wikipedia. The word “calorie” — with a lowercase “c” — means an amount of heat equal to 4.184 joules. 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