No, no, no, George. In the US nobody uses kitchen scales. There are recipe people and there are taste-as-you-go people. Neither use scales here.
Every other year, American kids get a chapter in metrics, and delusional school officials think that because the kids pass the quiz at the end of the unit, they won't be total retards in the scientific world or abroad. We still go to Mexico and Canada, get pulled over for driving too fast and pretend not to know that the posted speed signs were in kilometers. Or whatever they are in.
Anyway, I remember from 9th grade science that we use some units measurement to measure volume, even though they sound like they measure weight. I think the units are obtained based on the weight and volume of water. For example, there are little lines on my measuring cup that measure ounces. Eight ounces of water in volume would probably equal eight ounces of water in weight (assuming that's the standard used), but fill that measuring cup with gold to the 8 oz line, and you will have more gold in weight than you ought (That's the kind of system I want my gold dealers to use. I'd like to be so fortunate that they do not weigh but rather measure in volume.... That would be awesome).
In the US when a recipe calls for so many ounces of something, they're speaking in terms of volume. If you need two pounds of meat, however, you just eyeball it. I don't know anyone who uses kitchen scales.
Also, I don't think I knew until I was , like, 24 that cilantro and coriander were the same thing. My husband just found out last week because I planted some. As far as I can guess, cilantro is the fresh herb (we have a lot of Mexican food here), and coriander refers to the seed.
Isn't language fun?