Hi, You can record it this way: 255 Scale 1:17,500 not "1 inch=1/4 mile" Or 255 Scale approximately 1:nnnnn not "1:17,500" Louise Louise Ratliff Social Sciences and Map Catalog Librarian UCLA Library Cataloging & Metadata Center 11020 Kinross Ave. Box 957230 Los Angeles, CA 90095-7230 (310)206-5853 From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rick Grapes Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 2:46 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: conflicting scale statements Hi all, Here's something I should know how to handle, but right now I'm not sure. A senior moment. I have the following printed on the map. Scale 1:17,500. 1 inch = 1/4 mile. But 1 inch to ¼ mile isn't 1:17,500. I'm going to try to compare the map to a 7.5 minute topo and see which statement is closest. But I'm concerned that the differences between 17500 and 15840 might not be discernable when I compare. And if I can't tell the difference, neither will a patron, which might make the question moot. But the statement on the map is still incorrect. Any ideas? Rick Grapes BYU Map Collection