Microsoft® Manual of Style, Fourth Edition

N

n

Conventionally, a lowercase n in italic type refers to a generic use of a number. You can use n when the value of a number is arbitrary or immaterial. For example, you can say “move the insertion point n spaces to the right.” Reserve a lowercase x in italic type for representing an unknown in mathematical equations (a variable) and other such placeholders. See also x.

International considerations

Because n does not refer to the generic use of a number in all languages, using n for this purpose may lead to mistranslation in machine-translated content.

namespace

One word.

nanosecond

Always spell out. Means one-billionth of a second.

native language

Do not use to refer to a computer system’s machine language. This term could be a misleading anthropomorphism. ...