In French and German usage, one milliard equals 
.
American usage does not have a number called the milliard, instead using the term billion to denote 
. British usage, while formerly using "milliard,"
has in recent years adopted the American convention (Mish 2003, p. 852). This
constitutes a fortunate development for standardization of terminology, albeit a
somewhat regrettable development from the point of view that the (former) British
convention for representing large numbers is simpler
and more logical than the American one.
A terrible mathematical joke asks "What American President, with cities in California and Utah named after him, is associated in France and Germany with 
?" Answer: Milliard Fillmore (J. vos Post, pers.
comm., Apr. 27, 2006).
