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To space or not to space?

To space or not to space?

To space or not to space?

(OP)
When typing weights or loads, a guy at work doesn't put a space between the number and the units.  For example he types "2500lbs." not "2500 lbs.".  He says this is "standard".  I say its confusing and down right hard to read.

Is there really such a "standard"?  I think he thinks I'm just being petty but I really don't like it, standard or not.  I just flipped through three of my textbooks and no professional publishers cram the units against the numbers.

Where is he getting this idea from?  Anybody know?

RE: To space or not to space?

Neither.
2500 lb

No s, and no period.

See IEEE 260.4.

RE: To space or not to space?

Always use a space. Some people just get hung up on "That's how I've always done it".

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 01-18-07)

RE: To space or not to space?

For me, it depends what units, where its being written and basically how the whole thing looks.

47mAOD looks better to my eyes than 47 mAOD but then again 117l/s is easier to misread than 117 l/s. I try not to mix-and-match so if I have strong reasons for using one, I'll stick with it throughout that document.

I'm not aware of any standard though.

RE: To space or not to space?

to space or not to space that is the question?

I would go to space if I could

I go to space when I write.

RE: To space or not to space?

All docs should be consistent. All employees should be consistent within a company. If everyone in the company uses spaces, the one employee needs to change his/her ways.

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 01-18-07)

RE: To space or not to space?

Chris, you must make lot of friends at workwinky smile

I only say that because I'm part of a team working on standards at my place and we're certainly making friends by the score!

I'd leave the space however have to admit I'm not 100% consistent although I should be.

RE: To space or not to space?

Yes, LOTS of friends.lol
It's hell at first, but eventually they come around.

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 01-18-07)

RE: To space or not to space?

Be safe;

Two Thousand - Five Hundred Pounds (2500 lb)

OR

2.25 t(short)

upsidedown

Frank "Grimey" Grimes
You can only trust statistics 90% of the time.

RE: To space or not to space?

The two most important aspects of this question are:
1.  Be consistent within a document or project, and
2.  If the customer has a preference, do it his way.

That said, we always put a space between the numerals and units,  and that includes reports that become part of federal legislation.  Hummmm, maybe it was those reports that resulted in my company's current practice....

RE: To space or not to space?

Examples:

2000 pounds (space)
2000# (no space)

55% (no space)

8 feet 7 inches (spaces)
8'-7" (no spaces)

In general, I put spaces.  Spaces are omitted for stuff like degree symbol or percent symbol.  In reports, I tend to spell out the units whenever possible (exceptions may be for length units like km, cm, mm, etc.)  Not based on any published or established rules but thats how I've always done it (long as I can remember...).

Are punctuations correct in my last sentence?  The final period after end parenthesis...

RE: To space or not to space?

(OP)
Thanks everyone. I was hoping common sense would prevail and there wasn't some obscure document that says you crameverythingtogether.

RE: To space or not to space?

If you are seeking a "standard" for something broader than a sinle project, I suggest you check out one of the commonly used "Style Guides".   

I believe we used the "USCPO Style Guide" for the project I alluded to above.

RE: To space or not to space?

If you're in the publishing business that's one thing, but if you're in the engineering business, it's a whole new ball game.

As long as the reader understands what the number and units are, that's all that matters.

Our clients want their engineering done with minimal man-hours expended and could care less if a value was presented as 2500lbs, 2500 lbs, or 2500 lb and he doesn't want to waste man-hours on grammatical correctness.

NozzleTwister
Houston, Texas

RE: To space or not to space?

"As long as the reader understands..."

The original poster did say it was downright hard to read.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376

RE: To space or not to space?

IMO, sometimes it's easier to read when you leave the space out.

The box is 15 cm x 20 cm x 40 cm and is located 2 m south of the reference point at a height of 100 cm above floor level.

or...

The box is 15cm x 20cm x 40cm and is located 2m south of the reference point at a height of 100cm above floor level.

I prefer the second one myself.

=====================================
Eng-tips forums: The best place on the web for engineering discussions.

RE: To space or not to space?

ASTM E380 (Std Practice ofr Use of the International System of Units (SI) (the Modernized Metric System), Clause 3.5.1:
> units unaltered in plural form
> units note followed by period except at end of sentence
> number and units - to use space between the number and unit except for degree, minute and second of pland angle and degree Celsius.
> number and unit when used in a adjective sense:  use hyphen 35-mm film

I would suppose this is also follow over from English units but I don't have a spec on it.
cheers

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