The unit symbol combination kWh without space or middot is appropriate
and allowed for usage, as well as a couple of similar ones, according to
IEEE/ASTM SI 10-2010, Clause 3.5.3.2. As NIST 811-2008 states, this
follows ISO 31 (now ISO/IEC 80000) practice, though NIST explicitly does
not approve that usage.
I recommend not pushing too hard on that one example in the AP Styleguide.
Jim Frysinger
Chair, IEEE SCC14
Vice Chair, IEEE/ASTM Joint Committee for Maintaining SI 10
On 2011-05-05 1418, John M. Steele wrote:
Thank you, I found the pesky typos (it was one article)
They plead "poverty" on special symbols (it's 2011. I don't understand
why they don't have the extended ascii set available, but they claim
they don't). Therefore I wasn't really too bothered by the lack of a
mid-dot in kW·h or the lack of a degree symbol in temperatures. Per
SP811, section 6.1.5, note 2, the space may be omitted from kW h per
ISO31-0, or other cases where it does not lead to ambiguity, although
SP811 recommends the dot or space always be used. I don't think AP would
use "kW h" and can't use "kW·h." I decided "kWh" was good enough
although others can recommend they use "kW h" if they wish.
I omitted the becquerel because the AP article does not list the curie.
I am hoping they will use SP 330 as a reference and I don't have to
explain the entire SI to them. I am focusing on what I consider their
significant mistakes that they have the ability to correct. I'm not sure
(but I have VERY little experience in measuring ionizing radiation) that
measuring the radiation in becquerels is entirely (or reasonable)
equivalent as it ignores the amount of energy per particle (and for
gamma and x-rays, the probability that the particle will actually be
absorbed). The energy that would be absorbed can be measured in grays by
introduction of a suitable sensor, and if the radiation is
characterized, the "damage points" in sieverts can be calculated.
(Anyway, we would need Jim to write a better paragraph as I don't
consider myself competent on measurement of ionizing radiation.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* Pierre Abbat <[email protected]>
*To:* U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]>
*Sent:* Thu, May 5, 2011 9:25:01 AM
*Subject:* [USMA:50431] RE: AP Styleguide 2009
A few typos in the letter:
The symbol for kilowatt hour is kW·h, not kWh.
The word "degree" is misspelled as "dgree".
"The articles states" is ungrammatical. One of the s's is extra.
Also, the section about radiation units should mention the becquerel. I
heard
a story about Fukushima this morning on NPR, and the reporter seemed to
confuse radioactive matter with radiation. I've heard statements such
as "there are so many sieverts of radiation in the air", which doesn't make
sense - there's nothing to measure in sieverts unless there's a biological
body absorbing the radiation. Radiation can be measured in becquerels per
square meter, or an amount of radioactive matter can be measured in
becquerels.
Pierre
--
lo ponse be lo mruli po'o cu ga'ezga roda lo ka dinko
--
James R. Frysinger
632 Stony Point Mountain Road
Doyle, TN 38559-3030
(C) 931.212.0267
(H) 931.657.3107
(F) 931.657.3108
