Academic Writing for International Students of Science - Jane Bottomley 2015

9.5 Units of measurement
9 Academic and scientific conventions

Measurements should be presented following the SI (Système International d’Unités). The following are used widely throughout the scientific world. Note the use or non-use of capital letters and spaces in the examples: it is important that you write these correctly.

Measuring length

Unit

Abbreviation

Example

metre

m

100 m

centimetre

cm

50 cm

millimetre

mm

10 mm

nanometre

nm

400 nm

Weighing mass

Unit

Abbreviation

Example

kilogram

kg

40 kg

gram

g

100 g

milligram

mg

20 mg

Measuring volume

Unit

Abbreviation

Example

litre

l

4 l

millilitre

ml

20 ml

cubic metre

m³

4 m³

Other generally useful abbreviations

Unit

Abbreviation

Used to measure

Example

degree Celsius

°C

temperature

30°C

square metre

m²

area

5 m²

minute

min

time

25 min

Refer to:

International System of Units (2006) Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (8th edition), http://www.bipm.org/utils/common/pdf/si_brochure_8_en.pdf for other units used in your subject.

Practice

Correct the mistakes in the way the measurements are written.

1) Temperatures may reach 40°c.

2) The wire measured 2mm in diameter.

3) The machine weighs 44 Kg.

4) Measure 2 ls of water.

5) 2 g of solution were added to every m3 of water.