Microsoft® Manual of Style, Fourth Edition

How to use abbreviations of measurements

Follow these guidelines when abbreviating measurements:

• As a general rule, do not abbreviate units of measure except as noted in the Table of abbreviations of measurements. However, if space is limited, as it might be in a table, the abbreviations in this table are all right to use without restrictions.

• Abbreviations of units of measure are identical, whether singular or plural. For example, use in. for both 1 in. and 2 in.

• When units of measure are not abbreviated, use the singular for quantities of one or less, except with zero, which takes the plural (0 inches).

• Insert a space between the number and the unit of measure for all abbreviations.

  Note

  Close up 35mm when used in a photographic context, as in “35mm ...