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== Units of measurement == | == Units of measurement == | ||
{{main | {{main|UniWiki:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers#Units of measurement}} | ||
* The main unit in which a quantity is expressed should generally be an [[International System of Units|SI]] unit or [[Non-SI units mentioned in the SI|non-SI unit officially accepted for use with the SI]]. However, | * The main unit in which a quantity is expressed should generally be an [[Wikipedia:International System of Units|SI]] unit or [[Wikipedia:Non-SI units mentioned in the SI|non-SI unit officially accepted for use with the SI]]. However, | ||
** Scientific articles may also use specialist units appropriate for the branch of science in question. | ** Scientific articles may also use specialist units appropriate for the branch of science in question. | ||
* In a direct quotation, always keep the source units. If a conversion is required, it should appear within square brackets in the quote, or else an obscure use of units can be explained in a [[Wikipedia:Footnotes|footnote]]. | * In a direct quotation, always keep the source units. If a conversion is required, it should appear within square brackets in the quote, or else an obscure use of units can be explained in a [[Wikipedia:Footnotes|footnote]]. | ||
* Where space is limited (such as tables, infoboxes, parenthetical notes, and mathematical formulas) use unit symbols. In main text it is usually better to spell out unit names, but symbols may also be used when a unit (especially one with a long name) is used repeatedly. However, spell out the first instance of each unit in an article (for example, {{xt|the typical batch is 250 kilograms ... and then 15 kg of emulsifier is added}}), except for unit names that are hardly ever spelled out (e.g., the degree Celsius). Most unit names are not capitalized. Use "per" when writing out a unit, rather than a slash: {{xt|meter per second}}, not {{!xt|meter/second}}. (For spelling differences, follow {{section link||National varieties of English}}, above.) | * Where space is limited (such as tables, infoboxes, parenthetical notes, and mathematical formulas) use unit symbols. In main text it is usually better to spell out unit names, but symbols may also be used when a unit (especially one with a long name) is used repeatedly. However, spell out the first instance of each unit in an article (for example, {{xt|the typical batch is 250 kilograms ... and then 15 kg of emulsifier is added}}), except for unit names that are hardly ever spelled out (e.g., the degree Celsius). Most unit names are not capitalized. Use "per" when writing out a unit, rather than a slash: {{xt|meter per second}}, not {{!xt|meter/second}}. (For spelling differences, follow {{section link||National varieties of English}}, above.) | ||
* For ranges, see {{section link||En dashes: other uses}}, above, and UniWiki:Manual of Style/Numbers, at {{section link|nopage=y|Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers|Date ranges|Percentages|Unit names and symbols|Formatting of monetary values}}. | |||
* For ranges, see {{section link||En dashes: other uses}}, above, and | |||
* When dimensions are given, each number should be followed by a unit name or symbol (e.g., write {{xt|1 m × 3 m × 6 m}}, not {{!xt|1 × 3 × 6 m}}). | * When dimensions are given, each number should be followed by a unit name or symbol (e.g., write {{xt|1 m × 3 m × 6 m}}, not {{!xt|1 × 3 × 6 m}}). | ||
* When they form a compound adjective, values and spelled-out unit names | * When they form a compound adjective, values and spelled-out unit names should be separated by a hyphen: for example, {{xt|a five-day holiday}}. An exception is when the hyphenated construction has another meaning in the context. | ||
* Unit symbols are preceded by figures, not by spelled-out numbers. Values and unit symbols are separated by a [[non-breaking space]]. For example, {{xt|5 min}}. The percent sign and units of degrees, minutes, and seconds {{em|for angles and coordinates}} are unspaced. | * Unit symbols are preceded by figures, not by spelled-out numbers. Values and unit symbols are separated by a [[Wikipedia:Non-breaking space|non-breaking space]]. For example, {{xt|5 min}}. The percent sign and units of degrees, minutes, and seconds {{em|for angles and coordinates}} are unspaced. | ||
* Standard unit symbols do not require a [[full stop]] (period). However, non-standard abbreviations should always be given a full stop. | * Standard unit symbols do not require a [[full stop]] (period). However, non-standard abbreviations should always be given a full stop. | ||
* No ''s'' is appended, e.g., {{xt|km | * No ''s'' is appended, e.g., {{xt|km}}, not {{!xt|kms}}. | ||
* Write powers of unit symbols with HTML, e.g., {{xt|<nowiki>5 km<sup>2</sup></nowiki>}} not [[Unicode subscripts and superscripts|Unicode superscripts and subscripts]]. | * Write powers of unit symbols with HTML, e.g., {{xt|<nowiki>5 km<sup>2</sup></nowiki>}} not [[Wikipedia:Unicode subscripts and superscripts|Unicode superscripts and subscripts]]. | ||
* For quantities of bytes and bits, specify whether the binary or decimal meanings of K, M, G, etc. are intended. The [[Binary prefixes#IEC standard prefixes|IEC prefixes]] ''kibi-'', ''mebi-'', ''gibi-'', etc. (symbols Ki, Mi, Gi, etc.) are not familiar to most readers and should not generally be used (for exceptions, see {{section link| | * For quantities of bytes and bits, specify whether the binary or decimal meanings of K, M, G, etc. are intended. The [[Wikipedia:Binary prefixes#IEC standard prefixes|IEC prefixes]] ''kibi-'', ''mebi-'', ''gibi-'', etc. (symbols Ki, Mi, Gi, etc.) are not familiar to most readers and should not generally be used (for exceptions, see {{section link|UniWiki:Manual of Style/Numbers|Quantities of bytes and bits}}). | ||
** When discussing computer equipment and other real life hardware concepts, units should be specified as stated above. | |||
** When discussing in-game concepts (particularly drones), megabits (Mbits) should be used. | |||
== Common mathematical symbols == | == Common mathematical symbols == | ||