Hygrometer/Hydrometer...a common mistake

[Nate]

I just want to clear some thing up. I went to wal-mart a while back and asked for a "hydrometer to measure humidity with"..and i got a "wow you're a moron" look...and she corrected me saying that i'm looking for is a "Hygrometer"

I've seen the same mistake pop up a few times on this forum..so here's a bit of clarity

Hygrometer (this is what we need):
1. any instrument for measuring the water-vapor content of the atmosphere.
2. Any of several instruments that measure atmospheric humidity.


Hydrometer (not what we want):
an instrument for determining the specific gravity of a liquid, commonly consisting of a graduated tube weighted to float upright in the liquid whose specific gravity is being measured.

[Rapture]

You'd want a hydrometer if you had a salt water tank.

[Nate]

You'd want a hydrometer if you had a salt water tank.

well it's not common for me to house ball pythons with sea creatures

[wolfy-hound]

Duh... I have both... and I still call the ones to measure the humidity "Hydrometers". Thanks for correcting it, as I hate to sound like a moron who just thinks she knows what she's talking about.
*goes to write herself notes to remind her*
Wolfy

[python.princess]

i need both! kept calling hygrometer a hydrometer until i actually needed a hydrometer and figured it out for myself! lol