UNITS MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
Measurement of units

Correct method for measurement of units in English Language

Abbreviate units of measurement when they are preceded or followed by a number. Examples: Rs. 100, 8 in., 50 cm, 150 lb, No. 54, 10% Write abbreviations in singular even if they have plural connotations. Examples: 150 lb, but not 150 lbs; 10cm, but not 10 cms. Exceptions: Figs., pp., ll., cols.

For large numbers use symbols and abbreviations for readability. Example: instead of 10,00,000 rupees or 10 lakh rupees, write Rs. 10 lakh.

Million and billion are used in singular when they are preceded by a figure. But the practice in India is to write “Rs. 10 crores” or “Rs. 10 lakhs.” On the basis of analogy of the English language structure, the plural of lakhs or crores is incorrect. The abbreviated “$ 10 million” is read as “10 million dollars”; so also “Rs.10 lakhs” is read as “10 lakh rupees” but not as “10 lakhs rupees” or “rupees 10 lakhs.” There is no analogy in Indian languages to justify the use of the plural of “lakh” and “crore” in this situation.

(SI – Unit System)
No. Fundamental Quantity Fundamental Symbol
1
Length
meter
M
2
Mass
Kilogram
kg
3
Time
second
s
4
Electric Current
ampere
A
5
Thermodynamic temperature
kelvin
K
6
Luminous intensity
candela
cd
7
Quantity of matter
mole
mol
Uses of symbols of the units

One has to use the symbols of the units as mentioned in above table only. See that all symbols use small alphabets only, unless the unit is named after a scientist. Symbols should be written ‘upright type’ only not in italics.

See the following table carefully.

Unit Incorrect method (x) Correct method (√)
meter
M
Kilogram
KG, Kg, kg
kg
second
S. s
s
kelbin
ok, ok
K
gram
GM, gm
G
International System of Numbers and Unit
Description can be in any language like Gujarati, Hindi, English, Russian etc. But magnitude of the quantity should be written in international system of numbers and unit should be mentioned as per first table only. (This is why symbols are said to be international).
Measure of Quantity Incorrect method (x) Correct method (√)
40 meter
40 m
5 Kilometer
5km.
5 km
Unit Measurement System - Singular or Plural
Unit should not be written in plural. They are always in singular e.g. we should write 10 m instead of 10 meters or 10 ms.
Measure of Quantity Incorrect method (x) Correct method (√)
10 meters
10 m
10 Kilometer
10 kms.
10 km
10 kilograms 10 kgs. 10 kg
10 centimeter 10 cms. 10 cm
10 seconds 10 sec. 10 s
10,00,000 10 lakhs 10 lakh
10,00,00,000 10 crores 10 crore
Avoid Full Stop in Unit Measurement
‘Full stop’ should not be put between the letters of symbol or at the end of the symbol.
Measure of Unit Incorrect method (x) Correct method (√)
centimeter
Cm
kilogram
k.g., kg.
kg
kilometer k.m., km. km
Use of Capital Letter in Unit Measurement
If the unit, named after a scientist, is chosen, and it is written fully, its first letter should not be capital. If its symbol in used, its first letter is written capital.
Measure of Unit Unit
Incorrect method (x)
Correct method (√)
Force Newton, n Newton, N
Electric current
Ampere, amp
Ampere, A
Temperature
Kelvin
Kelvin, k
Kelvin, K
Electric Charge Coulomb
Coulomb, c
Coulomb, C
Use of Numerator and Denominator in Unit Measurement
Quantities appearing in numerator and denominator in a derived unit should be expressed as a single ratio. Also leave some space between symbols of two unit. E.g. meter / second / second is incorrect, it should be m/s2.
Derived unit Unit
Incorrect method (x)
Correct method (√)
Velocity m/s, m/s-1, ms-1 m/s, m s-1
acceleration
m/s2, m s-2, ms-2
m/s2, m s-2
Avoid use of Full Forms in Unit Measurement
In a derived unit if more than one base unit are written, either write their full forms or symbols. Don’t write full form of one and the symbol of the other.
Quantity Unit
Incorrect method (x)
Correct method (√)
Momentum kg meter/s kg m/s
kilogram m/s
or
  kg m/second kg m s-1
Use of Oblique(/) or Negative(-) in Unit Measurement
In case of a derived unit which is a ratio of two base units, oblique line (/) horizontal line (-) or negative power can be used. e.g. m/s, m-s, m s’ and denominator in a derived unit should be expressed as a single ratio. Also leave some space between symbols of two units. e.g. m / s, m s-1.
Related Topics :
Types of Noun in English Language
Types of Pronoun in English Language
Types of Verb in English Language
Types of Adverb in English Language
Types of Adjective in English Language
Kinds of Preposition in English Language
Types of Conjunction in English Language
Uses of Interjection words in English Language

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