On Aug 7 , at 10:11 AM, James Frysinger wrote:
This is outside the metric system, but there is no need for a
period following the symbol "oz" since it is a symbol and not an
abbreviation.
I'm not sure that is right, Jim.
In SI the short forms are officially called symbols but I think the
short forms for older, non-metric units have always been identified as
abbreviations. Thus, the abbreviation for fluid ounce may be written
as "FL. OZ." or "fl. oz." or "Fl. Oz." etc. (and even with script
letters). This is not typically done with a symbol. A symbol (like $
or # or @) is always the same. Thus, SI short forms, since they are
always the same (never M for metre or mw for megawatts), are symbols,
not abbreviations.
We can cite official BIPM documents to verify that the SI short forms
are called symbols. I know of no such documents that might classify
other, non-SI short forms as symbols.
Since "oz." and "fl. oz." etc. are abbreviations, they would
ordinarily be followed by a period. In passing, however, I note that
some modern styles tend to omit the periods at the end of
abbreviations. As usual, abbreviations have such variations in form
while symbols usually do not.
Regards,
Bill Hooper
Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA
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Make It Simple; Make It Metric!
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