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LBS vs LB which word is it modifing?

General English Grammar & Vocabulary,... » ESL General English Grammar Questions

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Latest post Mon, Jun 22 2009 10:33 PM by Anonymous. 5 replies.
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Anonymous  +  137485 Thu, 15 Sep 05 02:46 AM

Ok, would you say “a 500lbs bomb” or “a 500lb bomb”? The bomb is singular but the pounds are not (there happened to be five hundred of them in fact). So is the abbreviation for pounds modifying the “500” or the “bomb”?>>
Anonymous
Clive  +  137538 Thu, 15 Sep 05 05:32 AM

Hi,

A three-year contract. A 500lb. bomb. 

A period after the abbreviation is standard.

Best wishes, Clive 
Clive
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member 29,657
El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo
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Anonymous, 351 days ago
Wrong. Units are not normal abbreviations. There is no period after units. Units are the same for singular and plural. There is one space between the number and its unit. Check any technical style guide.

So your original question is moot.

It would be "a 500 lb bomb."

regards, Greg
Clive  +  608550 Mon, 08 Dec 08 08:17 PM
Hi Greg,
Thanks for the comment.

Clive
Clive
Anonymous, 207 days ago
There is a difference between writing a magazine article and writing an engineering report.  You sir, are wrong.  You should not assume all writing is technical.
Anonymous, 155 days ago
Units of measure are technical by nature, even if written in a sloppy non-technical news paper for example. There is never a period after a unit of measure, regardless the context or media. It is always Lb and not Lbs and there is a single space between the unit and the unit of measure.
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