0.001 grams or 0.001 gram

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Peaceblinkfriend

#553235 Sun, 10 Aug 08 01:29 PM

Hi

0.001g

Do we say 0.001 grams or 0.001 gram?

Thank you

PBF

Peaceblinkfriend

Joined on Wed, May 9 2007

Australia

Contributing Member (1,896)

Avangi

#553393 Mon, 11 Aug 08 12:32 AM

Use the plural when reading the numbers - "zero point zero zero one grams"

If you're using English words, use singular - "one one-thousandth of a gram" / "two one-thousandths of a gram" - I've also heard "one one-thousandth grams"

- A.

Avangi

Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007

Senior Member (4,492)

". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

Numbers, Plurals, Using English

Jarry1

#554057 Tue, 12 Aug 08 07:16 PM

I completely agree with the above, except that the scientific community would like all SI units, and therefore all units, to have the same plural as singular. But that would mean saying '200 metre'. As an adjective, use the singular, i.e. 'A one-thousandth(-)gram mass'

Jarry1

Joined on Tue, Aug 12 2008

New Member (16)

Plurals

Avangi

#554516 Wed, 13 Aug 08 09:59 PM

Hi, Jarry1,

I appreciate your point about using the expression as an adjective.

We always have to consider the community. When in Rome do as the Romans do.

It always amused me how in the US, the scientific, engineering, and manufacturing communities all had different conventions. To a machinist, everything is measured in "thousandths" (of an inch) and "based" on fractions of an inch. (Some engineers like to talk about "mils.")

When CAD came on board in the late 60's, manufacturing drawings were often issued in decimal parts of an inch, rounded to two places. A machinist knows that 3/8" is exactly .375", or "three hundred and seventy-five thousandths." The CAD dimension would be 0.38". Outrageous! (You knew the draftsman wanted the thing to be "three eighths of an inch".)

CAD = "computer assisted drafting"

Avangi

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