Abbreviations for most units of measurements use
small letters and periods. The few exceptions
that use capital letters are noted below.
Temperature abbreviations use capitals because
they come from proper nouns. Measures of mass or
weight of types of tons are usually capitalized
when abbreviated.
Abbreviations for metric units, including
temperatures (Kelvin or Celsius), do not end
with periods. Non-metric units with "per" (such
as "miles per hour") usually do not take
periods, either.
Temperature abbreviations are used in all types
of writing. Other abbreviations of measurements
are limited to lists, charts, technical writing,
and informal writing. In standard formal
English, they are spelled out.
If you spell out the number, spell out the unit
of measurement.
There is no need to add an s to an abbreviation
to show a plural. This is sometimes done in
advertising ("3 lbs. for a dollar"), but it is
not necessary.
English Unit Abbreviations
| Abbreviation |
Unit of
Measurement |
| bbl. |
barrel |
| cu. |
cubic |
| doz. |
dozen |
| F., F |
Fahrenheit |
| fl. oz. |
fluid ounce |
| ft. |
foot |
| gal. |
gallon |
| gr. |
grain |
| gr., gro. |
gross |
| in. |
inch |
| k., kt. |
karat |
| k., kt. |
knot |
| lb. |
pound* |
| LT, L.T. |
long ton |
| mi. |
mile |
| mph |
miles per hour |
| n.m. |
nautical miles |
| oz. |
ounce |
| pt. |
pint |
| qt. |
quart |
| sq. |
square |
| rpm |
revolutions per
minute |
| T., T |
ton |
| T. |
tablespoon in some
cookbooks |
| t. |
teaspoon in some
cookbooks |
| tbsp. |
tablespoon |
| tsp. |
teaspoon |
| yd. |
yard |
The single hatch mark ' can stand for foot or
a geographical minute (a minute of longitude or
latitude). The double hatch mark " can stand for
inch or geographical second (a second of
longitude or latitude). So 5'6" would mean five
feet, six inches. 42°24' 54" N. would mean 42
degrees, 24 minutes, 54 seconds north.
* Note: “lb” is an
abbreviation of the Latin word libra. Astrology
buffs will know that Libra is the seventh sign
of the zodiac and is symbolized by an image of
scales. In Roman times, the word libra referred
to balance or scales. It was also part of a unit
of measurement ― libra pondo, which has been
translated as “pound weight” or “a pound by
weight.” So the shorthand libra, or “lb,”
referred to a pound by weight. The earliest
known uses of “libra” or “lb” for pound in the
English language supposedly appear in the 14th
century. The “pondo” part of that ancient Roman
measurement, meanwhile, is the origin of the
word “pound” in English.
Metric Abbreviations
| Abbreviation |
Unit of Measurement |
| b |
bit |
| B |
byte |
| C |
Celsius, Centigrade |
| cc or cm³ |
cubic centimeter (cm³
is standard) |
| cm |
centimeter |
| G,GB |
gigabyte (GB is
standard) |
| g, gr |
gram (g is standard) |
| ha |
hectare |
| K |
Kelvin |
| K, KB |
kilobyte (KB is
standard) |
| kg |
kilogram |
| kl |
kiloliter |
| km |
kilometer |
| l |
liter |
| m |
meter |
| M, MB |
megabyte (MB is
standard) |
| mcg or µg |
microgram ( µg is
standard) |
| mg |
milligram |
| ml |
milliliter |
| mm |
millimeter |
| MT |
metric ton |
| t, T |
metric ton |
| w, W |
watt (W is standard) |
| kw, kW |
kilowatt (kW is
standard) |
| kwh, kWh |
kilowatt-hour (kWh is
standard) |
Since the metric system uses standard prefixes,
you can easily figure out most other metric
abbreviations; for example, cl would be
centiliter.
The Greek letter µ (mu) is often used to show
the prefix micro, especially in scientific
publications. For example, µg would be the same
as mcg, and µl would be microliter. When by
itself, µ stands for micron. mµ means
millimicron, and µµ means micromicron (a
millionth of a micron).
The prefix nano means "billionth," and is
usually represented by the letter n, as in ns
for nanosecond.
To abbreviate most square and cubic units in the
metric system, add the exponent ² for square and
the exponent ³ for cubic. For example, m² means
square meter, and mm³ means cubic millimeter. If
you use this notation, use it consistently: Use
cm³ rather than cc for cubic centimeter.
In standard scientific notation, the word per is
represented by a virgule. So km/h is kilometers
per hour.
For international standards including
abbreviations for very tiny and very large
units, see
http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/ or
Guide for the Use of the
International System of Units (SI).
This website was originally
developed by
Charles Camp for
CIVL
1101.
This site is
maintained by the
Department of Civil Engineering
at the University of Memphis.
Your comments and questions are welcomed.
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