Note 143 – Writing dimensions and measurements correctly

According to Graham King in his book Collins Improve your Punctuation, it is clearer to write dimensions and measurements in figures as follows:

• The tablecloth is 15 by 25cm
• 4 metres of material is required
• The Christmas trees range from 4ft 6in to 7ft 5in tall
• 4oz butter, 4oz caster sugar, 4oz self-raising flour and 2 eggs
• He weighed in at 71b 10oz
• 1 part bleach, 6 part water

Do you put full stops after abbreviating measurements?

An article on the Technical Communication Centre site http://www.technicalcommunicationcenter.com/2010/09/29/how-to-write-and-punctuate-measurements-correctly/ explains that there is no punctuation (i.e. full-stop) required after abbreviated dimensions except for the abbreviation of inch (in.).   This is because it could be mistaken for the preposition ‘in’, e.g. 7ft 1in. by 12ft 2in.

This blog forms part of my writing challenge. Don’t forget that you can subscribe to receive my daily blogs by email so that you don’t miss any. Just click ‘sign me up’ on the home page. Alternatively you can follow my blogs on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/madeirasandra or my new ‘Tips and Luxuries’ Facebook page. Requests for future blogs (punctuation/grammar/writing tips) are always welcome.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra

My writing challenge: http://wp.me/p1x6Ui-4

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Reference list:

Graham King The Collins Improve your Punctuation, UK

Technical Communication Centre site http://www.technicalcommunicationcenter.com/2010/09/29/how-to-write-and-punctuate-measurements-correctly/