SI unit rules and style conventions

Checklist for reviewing manuscripts

#1 ❏ G Only units of the SI and those units recognized for use with the SI are used to express the values of
quantities. Equivalent values in other units are given in parentheses following values in acceptable
units only when deemed necessary for the intended audience.

#2 ❏ A Abbreviations such as sec, cc, or mps are avoided and only standard unit symbols, prefix symbols,
unit names, and prefix names are used.
3
proper: s or second; cm or cubic centimeter; m/s or meter per second
improper: sec; cc; mps

#3 ❏ P Unit symbols are unaltered in the plural.

proper: l = 75 cm
improper: l = 75 cms

#4 ❏ P Unit symbols are not followed by a period unless at the end of a sentence.
proper: The length of the bar is 75 cm.
The bar is 75 cm long.
improper: The bar is 75 cm. long.

#5 ❏ M A space or half-high dot is used to signify the multiplication of units. A solidus (i.e., slash),
  horizontal line, or negative exponent is used to signify the division of units. The solidus must not be
repeated on the same line unless parentheses are used.
-1
proper: The speed of sound is about 344 m·s (meters per second)
The decay rate of 113Cs is about 21 ms-1 (reciprocal milliseconds)
m/s, m·s-2, m·kg/(s3·A), m·kg·s-3·A-1
m/s, m s-2, m kg/(s3 A), m kg s-3 A-1
-1
improper: The speed of sound is about 344 ms (reciprocal milliseconds)
The decay rate of 113Cs is about 21 m·s-1 (meters per second)
m÷s, m/s/s, m·kg/s3/A

#6 ❏ T Variables and quantity symbols are in italic type. Unit symbols are in roman type. Numbers should
generally be written in roman type. These rules apply irrespective of the typeface used in the
surrounding text.
proper: She exclaimed, “That dog weighs 10 kg!”
t = 3 s, where t is time and s is second
T = 22 K, where T is thermodynamic temperature, and K is kelvin
improper: He exclaimed, “That dog weighs 10 kg! ”
t = 3 s, where t is time and s is second
T = 22 K, where T is thermodynamic temperature, and K is kelvin

SI unit rules and st le conventions • Checklist for reviewing manuscripts • http://physics.nist.gov/cuu • Page 1
#7 ❏ T Superscripts and subscripts are in italic type if they represent variables, quantities, or running
numbers. They are in roman type if they are descriptive.

quantities are italic: cp, specific heat capacity at constant pressure

n
running numbers are italic:
x= X =
1
oX
n i= 1 i
descriptors are roman: mp, mass of a proton

#8 ❏ A The combinations of letters “ppm,” “ppb,“ and “ppt,“ and the terms part per million, part per
billion, and part per trillion, and the like, are not used to express the values of quantities.
-6
proper: 2.0 µL/L; 2.0 x 10 V;
4.3 nm/m; 4.3 x 10-9 l;
7 ps/s; 7 x 10-12 t,
where V, l, and t are the quantity symbols for volume, length, and
time.
improper: “ppm,” “ppb,” and “ppt,” and the terms part per million, part per
billion, and part per trillion, and the like

#9 ❏ U Unit symbols (or names) are not modified by the addition of subscripts or other information. The
 following forms, for example, are used instead.

#10 ❏ P The symbol % is used to represent simply the number 0.01.

proper: l1= l2(1 + 0.2 %), or

D= 0.2 %,
where D is defined by the relation D = (l1 + l2)/l2.
improper: The length l1 exceeds the length l2 by 0.2 %.

#11 ❏ I Information is not mixed with unit symbols or names.

  proper: the water content is 20 mL/kg
improper: 20 mL H2O/ kg
20 mL of water/ kg

SI unit rules and st le conventions • Checklist for reviewing manuscripts • http://physics.nist.gov/cuu • Page 2
#12 ❏ M  It is clear to which unit symbol a numerical value belongs and which mathematical operation applies
to the value of a quantity.
proper: 35 cm x 48 cm
1 MHz to 10 MHz or (1 to 10) MHz
20 ºC to 30 ºC or (20 to 30) ºC
123 g ± 2 g or (123 ± 2) g
70 % ± 5 % or (70 ± 5) %
240 x (1 ± 10 %) V

improper: 35 x 48 cm
1 MHz–10 MHz or 1 to 10 MHz
20 ºC–30 ºC or 20 to 30 ºC
123 ± 2 g
70 ± 5 %
240 V ± 10 % (one cannot add 240 V and 10 %)

#13 ❏ U  Unit symbols and unit names are not mixed and mathematical operations are not applied to unit
  names.
3 -3
proper: kg/m , kg · m , or kilogram per cubic meter
3 3
improper: kilogram/m , kg/cubic meter, kilogram/cubic meter, kg per m , or
kilogram per meter3.

#14 ❏ N   Values of quantities are expressed in acceptable units using Arabic numerals and symbols for units.

proper: m = 5 kg
the current was 15 A
improper: m = five kilograms
m = five kg
the current was 15 amperes

#15 ❏ U  There is a space between the numerical value and unit symbol, even when the value is used in an
adjectival sense, except in the case of superscript units for plane angle.
proper: a 25 kg sphere
an angle of 2º 3' 4"
If the spelled-out name of a unit is used, the normal rules of English
apply: “a roll of 35-millimeter film.”
improper: a 25-kg sphere
an angle of 2 º 3 ' 4 "

#16 ❏ D  The digits of numerical values having more than four digits on either side of the decimal marker are
separated into groups of three using a thin, fixed space counting from both the left and right of the
decimal marker. Commas are not used to separate digits into groups of three.
proper: 15 739.012 53
improper: 15739.01253
15,739.012 53

SI unit rules and st le conventions • Checklist for reviewing manuscripts • http://physics.nist.gov/cuu • Page 3
#17 ❏ Q Equations between quantities are used in preference to equations between numerical values, and
 symbols representing numerical values are different from symbols representing the corresponding
quantities. When a numerical-value equation is used, it is properly written and the corresponding
quantity equation is given where possible.
-1
proper: (l/m) = 3.6 [v/(km/h)](t/s)
-1
improper: l = 3.6 vt, accompanied by text saying,
“where l is in meters, v is in kilometers per second, and t is in seconds”

#18 ❏ S Standardized quantity symbols are used. Similarly, standardized mathematical signs and symbols are
 used. More specifically, the base of “log” in equations is specified when required by writing loga x
(meaning log to the base a of x), lb x (meaning log2 x), ln x (meaning loge x), or lg x (meaning
log10 x).
proper: tan x
R for resistance
Ar for relative atomic mass
improper: tg x for tangent of x
words, acronyms, or ad hoc groups of letters

#19 ❏ W .  When the word “weight” is used, the intended meaning is clear. (In science and technology, weight
is a force, for which the SI unit is the newton; in commerce and everyday use, weight is usually a
synonym for mass, for which the SI unit is the kilogram.)

#20 ❏ Q A quotient quantity is written explicitly.

 proper: mass divided by volume
improper: mass per unit volume

#21 ❏ O  An object and any quantity describing the object are distinguished. (Note the difference between
 “surface” and “area,” “body” and “mass,” “resistor” and “resistance,” “coil” and “inductance.”)
proper: A body of mass 5 g
improper: A mass of 5 g

#22 ❏ O  The obsolete terms molarity, normality, and molal are not used.
proper: amount-of-substance concentration of B (more commonly called
concentration of B) and its symbol cB and SI unit mol/m3 (or a related
acceptable unit)
molality of solute B, and its symbol bB or mB and SI unit mol/kg (or a
related unit of the SI)
improper: Molarity and the symbol M, normality and the symbol N
molal and the symbol 

SI unit rules and st le conventions • Checklist for reviewing manuscripts • http://physics.nist.gov/cuu • Page 4