UniWiki:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers: Difference between revisions

* Units unfamiliar to general readers should be presented as a name{{ndash}}symbol pair on first use, linking the unit name ({{xt|Energies were originally 2.3 [[megaelectronvolt]]s (MeV), but were eventually 6{{nbsp}}MeV}}).

* Ranges use unspaced en dash ({{tlx|ndash}}) if only one unit symbol is used at the end (e.g. {{xt|5.9{{ndash}}6.3{{nbsp}}kg}}), and spaced en dash ({{tlx|snd}}) if two symbols are used (e.g. {{xt|3{{nbsp}}μm{{snd}}1{{nbsp}}mm}}); ranges in prose may be specified using either unit symbol or unit names, and units may be stated either after both numerical values or after the last (e.g. {{nobr|{{xt|from 5.9 to 6.3 kilograms}}}}, {{nobr|{{xt|from 5.9 kilograms to 6.3 kilograms}}}}, {{nobr|{{xt|from 5.9 to 6.3{{nbsp}}kg}}}} and {{nobr|{{xt|from 5.9{{nbsp}}kg to 6.3{{nbsp}}kg}}}} are all acceptable).

* Length{{ndash}}width, length{{ndash}}width{{ndash}}height and similar dimensions may be separated by the multiplication sign (<code>×</code> or <code>&amp;times;</code>) or the word {{xtn|by}}.

:: &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp;{{xt|1{{nbsp}}m &times; 3{{nbsp}}m &times; 6{{nbsp}}m}}, not {{nobr| {{!xt|1 &times; 3 &times; 6 m}} }}, {{!xt|(1 &times; 3 &times; 6){{nbsp}}m}} nor {{nobr| {{!xt|1 &times; 3 &times; 6{{nbsp}}m³}} }}

:: &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp;{{xt|a railroad [[easement]] 10{{nbsp}}ft &times; 2.5{{nbsp}}mi}}  

:* With {{xtn|by}}, the unit need be given only once: {{nobr| {{xt|1 by 3 by 6 metres}} }} or {{nobr| {{xt|1 by 3 by 6 m}} }}

:* The unspaced letter {{xt|x}} may be used in common terms such as {{xt|[[4x4]]}}.

! style="width:40px;"<!--undersized width specification means that column size is set by widest word/nobreaked phrase in column contents-->|Aspect

! Guideline<!--this column picks up whatever width is left over from other columns-->

! style="width:40px;"<!--undersized width specification means that column size is set by widest word/nobreaked phrase in column contents-->| [[File:Yes check.svg|11px|link=|alt=]] Acceptable

! style="width:40px;"<!--undersized width specification means that column size is set by widest word/nobreaked phrase in column contents-->|[[File:X mark.svg|11px|link=|alt=]] Unacceptable

|Except as listed in the "Specific units" table below, unit {{em|symbols}} are uncapi{{shy}}tal{{shy}}ized unless they are derived from a proper name, in which case the first letter (of the base unit symbol, not of any prefix) is capitalized.<ref>These definitions are consistent with all units of measure mentioned in the SI Brochure {{crossref|(see previous footnote)}} and with all units of measure catalogued in [[European units of measurement directives|EU directive 80/181/EEC]] [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1397640809938&uri=CELEX:01980L0181-20090527].</ref>

|Unit {{em|names}} are given in lower case except: where any word would be capital{{shy}}ized, or where otherwise specified in the SI brochure<ref name="SI Brochure">{{cite book |title=SI Brochure: The International System of Units (SI) |edition=8th |orig-year=2006 |year=2014 |publisher=[[Bureau International des Poids et Mesures|BIPM]] |url= http://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure/ |section=Chapter 4: Non-SI units accepted for use with the SI, and units based on fundamental constants (contd.) |section-url= http://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure/chapter4.html |accessdate=2015-08-20}} Tables 6, 7, 8, and 9 give additional guidance on non-SI units.</ref> or this Manual of Style.{{clarify}}

|{{plainlist|

* {{ xt|He walked several miles.}}

* {{ xt|Miles of trenches were dug.}}

}}

|The spelling of certain unit names (some of which are listed in {{section link||Specific units}}, below) varies with the [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style#National varieties of English|variety of English followed by the article]].

|rowspan=2 | Write unit names and symbols in upright ([[Roman type|{{sic|hide=y|roman}}]]) type, except where emphasizing in context.