That what's the British came up with since they couldn't understand fractions and couldn't count high enough without taking their shoes off to use the metric system.  The whitworth system was about as successful as their oil pan gaskets.

If you ever had the chance to work on an old British bike or car you would have noticed that American Standard and Metric wrenches just never quite fit right 

 

Goes along with the crappy Lucas ignition/charging systems.

You know why the British drink warm beer?  Because Lucas also makes refrigerators