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From: tgg@otter.hple.hp.com (Tom Gardner)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Unit nomenclature (Was Disk transfer speed)
Message-ID: <1770003@otter.hple.hp.com>
Date: 11 Nov 88 13:51:32 GMT
References: <76349@sun.uucp>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Bristol, UK.
Lines: 29

FLAME ON

While we are discussing unit nomenclature, here is my pet peeve.

What is the international standard symbol for seconds?



If you think it is "S", then what is the standard symbol for conductance? 
(hint: the unit is a Siemen.)


Right. The symbol for Siemens is "S". The unit for seconds is, wait for it, 
"s". THAT'S RIGHT, lower case ess.


So the next time you see a magazine article which, for example,
quotes a RAM speed as 125nS, you may well begin to wonder whether they really 
understand what they are writing. And then there are the instruments that 
get it wrong on their front panel. Would you buy a car which had its 
speedometer calibrated in Hertz?  

FLAME OFF

I feel better now.

Tom Gardner

-- usual disclaimers