Metric Documentation & Communication Flashcards
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Read the first 6 Metric Documentation & Communication flashcards as text
According to NIST SP 811, how should a space be used when writing metric quantities?
Answer: A space between the number and the unit symbol
NIST SP 811 requires a space between the numerical value and the unit symbol (e.g., 5 kg, not 5kg).
When writing metric unit symbols, they should be:
Answer: Lowercase except those derived from proper names
Metric unit symbols are lowercase unless derived from a proper name, such as Hz (hertz), N (newton), or Pa (pascal).
Which is the correct way to express a range of measurements?
Answer: Both A and B are acceptable per NIST SP 811
NIST SP 811 accepts both '5 to 10 kg' and '5 kg to 10 kg' as correct, but discourages '5-10 kg' due to ambiguity.
The correct symbol for 'micrometre' is:
Answer: µm
The correct symbol is µm (micro = µ, metre = m), though 'um' is sometimes used in ASCII contexts.
When expressing large numbers in metric documentation, the preferred separator is:
Answer: Spaces (e.g., 1 000 000)
The SI recommends using thin spaces to separate groups of three digits instead of commas or periods, which have different meanings in different countries.
Metric unit symbols should be pluralized by adding 's' when the value is greater than 1.
Answer: False — unit symbols are never pluralized
SI unit symbols are never pluralized; '5 kg' is correct, never '5 kgs'.