Convention for specification of quantities
Convention for specification of quantities
(OP)
In the company where I work for we must write instructions for every operation that manufacturing performs. Assembly instructions, rework instructions, test protocols, etc. We are required to spell out the quantities of items specified and then in parentheses place the numerical equivalent as follows:
Bolt plate 'A' to bracket 'B' using four (4) #6-32....
Is there a valid reason for this?
Bolt plate 'A' to bracket 'B' using four (4) #6-32....
Is there a valid reason for this?





RE: Convention for specification of quantities
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
A.
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
I just can't find the spec right now.
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
We, rather this company, gets carried away with procedures. I write assembly procedures before the parts are even ordered, then an electrical engineer will review and make his recomendations as how he wants it assembled. He is Project leader, so I have to defer to him. Next the Director of Engineering reviews them and makes changes. Finally manufacturing will start to work with the procedures and I make thier changes. Then the document is released. It wears me out.
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
I think it became a somewhat standard practice because it is VERY EASY to mis-interpret, mis-read, or have a typographical error in a single digit. Yes, errors are possible for multi-digit numbers, but I think both the likelyhood and consequences of errors are greater for single digit numbers.
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
http://www.grammarbook.com/numbers/numbers.asp
I can imagine maybe there may be a more rigid standard applied for instructions than for general writing. Plus, some folks are just plain anal. There's not much you can do about it if one of them is your boss.
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RE: Convention for specification of quantities
Thank you, you hit the nail right on the head. The key word here is 'anal'. Also, I do see the point for the parentheses for single digits. I realise that when it comes to engineering documents the rules of grammer do not always apply. So thanks to all who replied.
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
It would have to be translated first, even worse!
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
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RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
We're going down!!!!
Best regards
pennpoint
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
Slight aside: why are parentheses referred to as 'brackets' over here in the UK? Is this is case elsewhere too?
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I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
(parentheses) [brackets]
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
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I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
Z <> 2
I <> 1
l <> 1
I <> l
0 <> O
C <> O
C <> 0
Q <> O
0 <> Q
6 <> 8
B <> 8
b <> 6
3 <> 8
9 <> 8
7 <> 2
5 <> S
N0w y0u 5ee why. 101
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RE: Convention for specification of quantities
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
Going the Big Inch!![[worm] worm](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/worm.gif)
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RE: Convention for specification of quantities
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
If you type 'four', then Word will write "four (4)", or if you type (4), Word will write "four (4)"....
It's also a great tool to play jokes on your office mates! When they type something common, such as the company name, you can have Word replace it with "Please call IT immediately at 555-5555"...
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RE: Convention for specification of quantities
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RE: Convention for specification of quantities
As I recall...
{braces} or {curly braces} and [square brackets] versus <angle brackets>
RE: Convention for specification of quantities
So it's down to common sense whether you do it or not -
if it's not obvious or if it's critical, then spelling out the number is a darn good idea.
If I'm quoting for a job worth a lot of money, I always write 'our price is 4 500 000 (four million five hundred thousand)'. If I've made an error in one format, it's unlikely I'll make the identical error in the other.
(But it doesn't matter because it always costs 6 million anyway)