Internal Style Guide

Updated as of 10/24/2016

Introduction
This internal style guide is a foundational guide to keep writing consistent on projects even though
various pieces are supplied by different writers and editors. Unless otherwise directed in this internal style
guide, use AP for grammar and style and use the ​Merriam-Webster online dictionary​ for spelling (which
includes capitalization and hyphenation).

You should regularly check and refer to this document as you work on projects, but remember that each
project or client might also have their own style guide, style sheet or project brief. When writing or
editing on any project, follow rules in this order:
● The client- or project-based style guide or instructions. This takes precedence when there’s a
conflict between the documents.
● If something isn’t in those instructions, default to the guidance in this internal style guide.
● If something isn’t covered in either client-based instructions or this style guide, default to AP for
style and Merriam-Webster for spelling.

Seeking Assistance in the Forum

The ​Crowd Content forum​ is where writers, editors and project managers can share content and ask
questions. If you have any questions about style guide requirements or specific projects, the forum is the
best place to go for advice and answers.

Membership in the forum is ​mandatory​ for everyone working on managed projects, as it’s where
important updates and announcements will be made.

Dictionary and Spelling

Unless otherwise instructed by this style guide or the client instructions, use spellings from
Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary at Merriam-Wesbter.com. If two spellings are provided, default to
the first listing in the dictionary.

Note that you don’t have to purchase a subscription to Merriam-Webster.com to use this dictionary to
check spelling requirements. Most of the words you are likely to look up are included in the free online
dictionary, but if you do come across a word that’s behind the paywall at Merriam-Webster, the site ​does
show you the right spelling though it doesn’t offer a definition.
The example below shows what Merriam-Webster.com returns if you find a word that isn’t included in
the free version. The word searched for in this instance was barstool, and you’ll note the correct spelling
in bold in that text.

Boilerplating and Plagiarism

Never plagiarize content from any source material that you use. Generally, if you copy a phrase of more
than a couple words directly from a source without correctly quoting and citing the material, it’s
considered plagiarism. Even if you reword content or ideas from a source, you typically have to cite
where you got this information from. Various client and project briefs will provide instructions on how to
include sources.

One time you’ll likely rewrite content from source material without directly citing it is when writing
marketing copy such as product descriptions. In such cases, you must use the specifications and
information from manufacturers or other sites to create unique copy. Simply copying the information
from another source isn’t okay.

The ban on plagiarism includes self-plagiarism. You can’t copy and paste material you wrote for one
client, project or task into another task. If you are paid once for the copy, you can’t use it again and be
paid for it again, as Crowd Content is paying you for unique content for each task.

Boilerplating​ is similar to self-plagiarism. Boilerplating occurs when you use a template approach to
content. For example, if you’re writing product descriptions about six chairs and the only difference is the
finish of the wood and color of the fabric, you might write one chair description, copy it six times and
change only the color and finish specifics. That’s not unique content, and that is boilerplating.

Boilerplating and plagiarism are not allowed and can get you banned from a project or even the platform.

References and Resources

When you take information from outside sources and include it in your copy, you must include links to
your sources. Follow project-specific guidance for citing sources via a source list or anchor links. If no
specific guidance is provided, include your source links at the bottom of your submission so that editors
can fact check appropriately.
Follow project briefs regarding resource requirements; otherwise, use common sense and cite quality,
authority sources. In general, a personal blog isn’t an authority source unless the blogger is a recognized
expert on the subject.

Strong sources might include:

● Reputable and recognizable news organizations (examples: The Wall Street Journal, Forbes,
Entrepreneur, ABC, CNN)
● Education (.edu) sites
● Government (.gov) sites
● Well-known niche, industry, or specialty sites that provide informative articles (examples: The
Motley Fool, Intuit, Fidelity, Mayo Clinic)
● Journals and niche publications (examples: The American Journal of Medicine, Insurance Journal
Magazine)
The above list is only meant to provide examples of strong sources. It is not an “approved” list of sources,
and you should use your best judgment and follow project guidelines when sourcing.

Wikipedia is not a banned source, and it is often a good place to begin or seek clarification about a
general topic. However, Wikipedia should never be your only source.

Marketing Copy Sources

When researching for marketing copy, always begin with the manufacturer’s site and defer to any
information found there. Only use other sources if the manufacturer or brand page is not available.

Marketing Writing vs. General Writing

As you work on Crowd Content enterprise projects, you’re likely to come across two major types of
projects. The first is marketing writing, which might include product and category descriptions, landing
pages and social media posts. The second is general copy, which includes articles, white papers and blog
posts.

The grammar and style rules presented in this document apply overall to both types of projects, though
marketing writing also requires an understanding of feature/benefit pairing and sales copy. Marketing
writing should rarely sound like an infomercial. If you’re working on marketing copy projects, please note
that a Crowd Content Marketing Writing guide will be coming your way soon.

Word Choice: Avoiding Fluff, Repetition and Awkward Phrasing

Regardless of project, keep your phrasing simple and concise. Use a variety of sentence structures and
styles to get your point across and increase readability but be sure to follow any overriding client
instructions in this matter. In general, aim for a professional but friendly tone. Don’t use slang, eliminate
idioms and ensure you’re speaking to the reader in a voice that matches the purpose of the project and the
client’s specific guidelines.
✓ Don’t use archaic phrasing such as “one.”

Don’t: One should visit the library on a regular basis to find good books.
Do: You can visit the library regularly to find good books.
Do: Individuals can find good books when they visit their local libraries.

✓ Avoid repeating sentence structures back-to-back or starting sentences or paragraphs repeatedly

with the same word. This is especially true in shorter copy, such as product descriptions.

Don’t: ​ ​This watch is comfortable to wear. This watch lets you tell time. This watch is black.
Do: Tell time with this comfortable wrist watch. It’s available in black for an easy match to
your outfit.

✓ Avoid repeating the same or similar words throughout your copy and especially in the same
sentences and paragraphs. At the same time, don’t simply shove synonyms or thesaurus words
into your copy. In some cases, there simply isn’t a good replacement for a word and you might
have to include it a few times or restructure your sentences to avoid repetition.
Don’t: The company provides employees with ​laptops​. ​Laptop​ policies are in place to ensure
the security of any data kept on ​laptops​ that leave the building.
Do: The company provides employees with ​laptops.​ ​Computer​ policies are in place to
ensure the security of any data kept on ​devices​ that leave the building.

✓ Avoid phrases or words that don’t add to the copy or that can be excised from the copy without
changing the meaning. Some examples are provided below, but these are not meant to be all
inclusive.
o Controls on the light let you set it at three different illumination levels.
▪ Different can be removed from this sentence. You wouldn’t say the “three same
illumination levels,” so you don’t need to specify they are different.
o The FBI gathers data in order to learn about crime trends.
▪ “In order to” is generally fluff. This sentence could be written “The FBI gathers
data to learn about crime trends.”
o The bicycle is finished in a bright, apple-colored red glossy finish.
▪ There’s too much going on in “a bright, apple-colored red glossy finish.”

✓ Pay attention to logic and ensure what you say is logical

Don’t: With 4GB of RAM, you can multitask throughout your workday.
**You don’t have 4GB of RAM; the computer has 4GB of RAM

Don’t:​ ​Wash dishes with this stainless steel dishwasher handle kit.
** The kit lets you install a handle, which might help you get dishes done. But you don’t
wash dishes with the handle.

Don’t:​ ​This recipe book includes instructions on how to make pie, a measurement chart, and
cake.
 ** It doesn’t include instructions on how to make a measurement chart. It includes
instructions on how to make pie and cake as well as a measurement chart.

Style and Grammar

This section provides guidance on some elements of style and grammar, but it is not meant to be all
inclusive. If a matter is not covered in the project brief or this style guide, then default to the rules of AP.
While a subscription to the AP stylebook is a good idea, it’s not completely necessary; you can find
excellent guidance regarding grammar matters via sites such as ​Grammar Girl​ or Purdue University’s
OWL APA resources​.

The subsections for style and grammar are presented in alphabetical order by topic for ease of reference as
you are working.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Use abbreviations and acronyms sparingly, especially when dealing with those that might only be familiar
within a niche. In general, spell out the item on first reference and use the abbreviation or acronym in
subsequent references within the same piece. Do not introduce the acronym in parentheses after the
spelled out version. If the acronym could cause any confusion in the copy, don’t use it.

Always use instantly recognizable acronyms such as CIA, NASA, FBI, CBS and ABC. These are usually
companies or organizations that are better known by their acronyms than full names, and you don’t have
to spell them out upon first reference.

Use U.S. when it's an adjective and United States as a noun.

Do: The U.S. government looks after the affairs of the United States.
Don’t: The United States government looks after the affairs of the U.S.

Ampersands
Only use ampersands as part of a trademarked product or brand name, such as Johnson & Johnson or
Black & Decker.

Active/Passive Voice
It’s not necessary to completely remove passive voice from most types of copy. A mix of active and
passive voice is usually acceptable as long as you opt for active voice whenever appropriate. Active voice
is more powerful and often easier to read, but you should not sacrifice readability or flow simply to avoid
passive voice.

Ages
Use figures when writing about ages, even when with numerals 1 through 9. When ages are used as a
noun or adjective, hyphens are necessary.
 Do: The product is safe for use by 8-year-olds.
Do: The 8-year-old girl had a brother who was 6 years old.
Don’t: The girl’s brother was 6-years-old.
Don’t: This book is appropriate for ages nine to 99.
Do: This book is appropriate for ages 9 to 99.

Apostrophes
An apostrophe is used to express possession or replace missing letters in a contraction.
Note that "it's" refers to "it is" or "it has" and does not indicate possession. Its (without the apostrophe) is
the possessive form.

Bullets and Numbered Lists

Bullet points and numbered lists are a good way to break up content into chunks that are easy for the
reader to scan. Don’t use bullets or lists if they are prohibited by the client brief or in very short marketing
copy unless specifically asked to do so.

When using bullet points or numbered lists, use the formatting features on the platform and do not simply
type numbers or insert hyphens or other features to indicate a bullet. Do not end each item in a bulleted
list with a period unless every item in the list is a complete sentence. Ensure that bulleted and numbered
lists follow the rules of parallelism.

Capitalization
Capitalize the first letter of the first word of each sentence, any proper nouns or trademarked terms that
include capitalization and the first letter of the first word of bullet points. Do not capitalize ordinary or
generic words unless they begin a sentence or a bullet point. Capitalize "I" when used as a first-person
singular.

Unless otherwise directed by the client brief, use discretion when capitalizing proper nouns such as
NVIDIA and GeForce. In general, you want to keep the manufacturer's preferred name and style, but err
on the side of only using an initial capital letter for words longer than seven letters to avoid what the AP
stylebook calls alphabet soup.

Contractions
Unless otherwise instructed in the client brief, use common contractions in copy. They create a friendlier
voice. Avoid contractions or limit their use if a client has requested very formal copy.

Commas
Use AP rules for comma use unless otherwise noted in client briefs. Some of the most common rules
you’ll follow are detailed below.
✓ Don’t use the serial (Oxford) comma in simple lists.
o Do: I love beans, eggs and toast for breakfast.
o Don’t: I love beans, eggs, and toast for breakfast.
 ✓ Use the serial comma in complex lists or when the meaning would be changed if you didn’t
include it.
o Do: I love beans, eggs, and toast and jam for breakfast.
o Don’t: I love beans, eggs and toast and jam for breakfast.

✓ Use a comma after introductory phrases

o If he had been sensible, he would’ve finished the style guide days ago.

✓ Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it separates two independent clauses.
o I’m currently in a pub, and the coffee is actually palatable.

✓ Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives. In general, if you can place “and” between the
adjectives and it still sounds correct, they’re coordinate adjectives.
o Do: The cold, dark alley was frightening to the child.
o Do: The light red flower bowed in the breeze.
o Don’t: The light, red flower bowed in the breeze.

✓ Use a comma before “which” when “which” starts a nonrestrictive clause. That means if you
took the which clause out, the meaning of the rest of the sentence would not be altered.
o I met up with an old friend yesterday, which was nice.
o **Note, if the which clause is not restrictive, replace “which” with “that.”

✓ Use commas to offset clauses that provide extra information that isn’t essential to the meaning of
the sentence.
o The mushroom, which was tasty, didn’t look appealing at first.
o The tiger, a stuffed toy, looked ferocious to my 4-year-old.

Colons
Colons are used to tie related ideas or sentences together. It’s a signal to the reader that what comes next
is directly related — often by way of being explanatory — to the first sentence.

Only use a colon after a complete sentence, though what comes after the colon does not have to be a
complete sentence. Capitalize the first word after the colon if what follows ​is​ a complete sentence or if the
word is a proper noun.

Do: He had two squirrels on his shoulder: Percy and Bob.

Do: The basket was filled with fruit: oranges, apples and pears.
Do: Rick Astley is perhaps most famous for making a promise: He’s never gonna give you
up.
Don’t: Two squirrels: Percy and Bob.
Don’t: The basket was filled with fruit: They drove over three miles to get to the store. (The two
ideas here, without any other context, aren’t sufficiently related, and this is just confusing.)
Currencies
Use numerals for currencies. Use the £, $, ¥ or € sign as appropriate for the four major currencies (British
pound, U.S. dollar, yen and euro). For all other currencies, spell out the currency after the amount.

Do: He has $5 in his pocket.

Do: The company made 5.5 billion reals ($1.7 billion) last year.
Don’t: The meal cost her twelve dollars.

Use the dollar sign with the appropriate short form of the country on second reference if the country uses
the dollar (e.g., AU$, CA$, NZ$, SG$, NT$).

Example: The company's profits were about 500 million Canadian dollars last quarter. In
the same quarter last year, the company made CA$600 million.

Use currency conversions sparingly because although they can be useful to the reader, they can also be
misleading. As of October 2016, $1 is roughly worth £0.80; in April 2016, that same dollar was worth
roughly £0.65. This means that any takings produced in the United Kingdom in April will look as though
they have dropped 20 percent if using October's conversion rate.

Dangling Modifiers
Dangling modifiers occur when a phrase modifies a word that isn’t clearly stated in the sentence, which
leads to a logical error upon reading the sentence.

Example: With built-in Wi-Fi, you can connect to the internet.

The problem in the above example is that you, the person, do not have built-in Wi-Fi. This sentence is
referring to a device that has built-in Wi-Fi and the fact that you can use that device to connect to the
internet.

To solve the problem, you either need to rewrite the sentence to combine the two clauses and do away
with the beginning modifier, make the relevant or logical noun the subject of the main clause or name the
relevant or logical noun in the introductory clause.

Rewrite to remove introductory clause: ​You can connect to the internet with the built-in Wi-Fi.

Include the right subject in the main clause:​ With built-in Wi-Fi, ​this computer​ lets you
connect to the internet.

Name the logical noun in the introductory clause:​ With ​this computer’s​ built-in Wi-Fi, you can
connect to the internet.

None of those three examples implies that you, the person, have built-in Wi-Fi.

Dashes
Dashes are used to denote sudden changes in emphasis — just like this. AP style uses the em-dash. Do
not use pairs of hyphens or the en-dash.
When you use an em-dash, place a space on either side of it. An em-dash can be created in Word and on
the Crowd Content platform by holding down the Alt key and pressing 0151 on the number pad.
Degrees/Temperature
Spell out the word degrees. When using it with Fahrenheit or Celsius, spell out those words as well. Do
not use degrees with Kelvin.

Do: Humans have a 124-degree field of view.

Do: August in Lapland often brings highs of 14 degrees Celsius.
Do: Water freezes at 273.15 Kelvin.
Don’t: It was 94​°F the other day.

Exclamation Points
Do not use exclamation points in any copy unless the exclamation point is a part of a trademarked brand
or product phrase or it is ​specifically​ required in a client’s project brief.

Hyphens
Hyphens are used to prevent misreading or misunderstanding. In general, hyphenate compound adjectives
when they precede the nouns they modify. Do not hyphenate when the first part of the compound is an
adverb.

Do: I like high-quality bacon.

Don’t: I like this bacon because it’s high quality.
Don’t: She was a highly-qualified therapist.
Do: She was a highly qualified therapist.

Don’t hyphenate common compound noun modifiers, even when they appear prior to the noun they
modify. Examples include stainless steel, real estate agent, first aid, high school, first base coach and car
repair shop. If you aren’t sure about hyphenation, ask in the forum.

Some words/phrases are spelled with a hyphen. Follow Merriam-Webster guidance on when a phrase is
spelled with a hyphen regardless of placement in the sentence. Example: water-resistant, sweat-proof.

Numbers
There are two main types of numbers: ordinal and cardinal. These rules apply to both types.

● Cardinal numbers: one, two, three. . . 50, 51. . .100, 101 and so on
● Ordinal numbers: first, second, third . . . 50​th​, 51​st ​. . . 100​th​ and so on
In general copy, spell out numerals between zero and nine, but don’t spell out fractions or numbers with
decimal points. Use numerals above that. ​Exceptions: ​ages, currencies, percents and measurements. See
the applicable sections under those topics for more information.

Do: He could juggle nine balls.

Don’t: The bike has 2 wheels.
 Do: He ate 55 lemons.
Don’t: She had twenty-three apples.

Use a comma in all numbers above 999.

Spell out million and billion, but use numerals for the initial number.

Do: He saw approximately 2 million birds.

Do not start sentences with numerals unless it’s a year, and write around starting sentences with a year
when possible.

Use a leading zero before the decimal point in numbers less than 1.

Do: The container holds 0.2 gallons of liquid.

Don’t: The cushion is .3 inches thick.

Parenthesis
Parentheses are used to add extra information into a sentence. AP style doesn't use parentheses, so use
them very reluctantly. Usually, you can replace them commas or em-dashes or write around the need to
include parenthetical elements.

The main exception is in the titles of books and songs where parenthesis are present.

Example:​ Everything I Do (I Do It For You).

Percent
Spell out the word “percent.” Always use numerals with percent.

Do: Expect 500 pages at 5 percent coverage.

Do: Approximately 70 percent of participants answered yes.
Don’t: Only one percent of the people voted.
Don’t: The blue binders accounted for 50% of the stock.

Periods
Use a period at the end of a sentence. Use only one space following a period (do not press the space bar
twice after a period).

Use periods in acronyms of two letters unless they are units of measurement (a.m., U.K., and U.S.;
exceptions: EU, ID and GI).

Use periods in abbreviations (Ave., Rd., Mr., Dr. and Lt. Col.).

Do not use periods in acronyms of three letters or more (CIA, ATF, OSHA).
Pronouns
In general, use second or third person. Only use first person if it's specifically requested. Keep content
gender neutral where appropriate.

A company is an "it" in U.S. English because it's a singular entity. The same applies to teams and staff.
Do not use "they" as a third-person singular.

Question​ Marks
Question marks are used at the end of questions. Avoid using rhetorical questions in copy unless they are
vital to the meaning or the client brief imposes them.

Quotes and Quotation Marks

When a quote is requested by a client, use the quote as is. Do not make alterations to the quote other than
to change quotation marks as needed. If it is a spoken quote, you can make alterations to spelling to
correct spelling errors. Cite quotes following AP requirements or client instructions.

Quotation marks are used for quotes and to introduce words. Use double quotation marks only. Do not use
quotation marks to denote idioms and other common turns of phrase. Do not use them to indicate sarcasm
or as scare quotes.

Do: The word “special” has multiple meanings.

Do: Did he really say, “All your base are belong to us?”
Don’t: She said she was going to “paint” the cabinets.

Use a comma before a single-sentence quote and use a colon for quotes that consist of multiple sentences.
Offset quotes of more than 35 words into their own paragraphs and start and end with quotation marks.

Place commas and periods inside quotes but place colons and semicolons outside quotes, unless they are
part of the quote.

Only place a question mark or an exclamation mark inside the quote if only the section inside the quote is
a question or an exclamation. Place them outside if the entire sentence is a question or an exclamation.

Examples: He asked me, "What you want?"

When I said I wanted to break up, all he had to say was, "Well, I just love sugar"!

Titles of Books, Films, Games and Other Media

In an exception to AP style, do not use quotes around the titles of fictional and nonfictional works,
whether they are movies, books, games or other media. Do not italicize these, either. Unless otherwise
instructed by the client, we leave titles naked and not italicized to avoid formatting and data transfer
problems.

Do: Aldous Huxley's Brave New World illustrates a remarkable dystopia.

Don’t: Aldous Huxley’s ​Brave New World​ illustrates a remarkable dystopia.
Don’t: Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” illustrates a remarkable dystopia.
Semicolons
The semicolon separates a complex list when more than one element in the list includes multiple
elements.

Example: There was a couple arguing about a sofa; a mother and a daughter having a
friendly catch-up; and two girls and a boy laughing about a piece of potato.

It can also be used to separate two related but independent clauses.

Example: He ate the sandwich in seconds; it didn't stay down for long, though.

Spacing
Only use one space after periods and colons. Never use two spaces.

Units of Measure
(Reference the ​Units of Measure table​ for a grid format of all of the information in this section.)

Measurements are a big part of writing marketing copy, and you should use numerals for all Imperial and
SI units except for hours, minutes and seconds. For those, stick to the standard rules. In addition, use
numerals for computing terms such as data storage and transfer rates.

In general, spell out units of measurement when referring to length, volume, area or time. Also spell out
units of weight.

Abbreviate units of measurements referring to charge, power, capacitance and voltage. Place the unit of
measurement flush to the numeral. Exception: Spell out ohms, because the omega symbol is a pain to
find and use.

Abbreviate technical computer terms and place the unit flush to the numeral.

In general, spell out any other measurements not mentioned, including lumens and lux (light); newtons
(mass); pascals and bar (pressure); and becquerels and sieverts (radiation). If you have to double-check
what a unit is, it's usually best to spell it out.

UNITS OF MEASURE
Measurement Abbreviation/Spell Out Examples with Adjectively
Numbers
ampere A 5A 5A current
American Wire Gauge AWG 12 AWG 12-AWG
baud spell out 8 baud 8-baud
bit spell out 8 bits 8-bit
British thermal unit BTU 12,000 BTU 12,000-BTU
byte spell out 8 bytes 8-byte
centimeter spell out 2 centimeters 2-centimeter
copies per minute cpm 60 cpm 60-cpm
cubic feet spell out 4 cubic feet 4-cubic-foot
cubic feet per minute cfm 4 cfm 4-cfm
cup(s) spell out 8 cups 8-cup
decibel dB 42dB 42db
decibel adjusted dBA 24dBA 24dBA
degrees spell out 11 degrees Celsius 11-degree
(spell out Celsius and 32 degrees Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit after 20 Kelvin
degree; do not include
degree with Kelvin)
dots per inch dpi 360 dpi 360-dpi
foot/feet spell out 6 feet 6-foot
frames per second fps 30 fps 30-fps
gallon spell out 2 gallons 2-gallon
gigabit Gb 8Gb 8Gb
gigabit per second Gbps 25Gbps 25Gbps
gigabyte GB 4GB 4GB
gigahertz GHz 3.0GHz 3.0GHz
grams spell out 40 grams 40-gram
hertz Hz 80Hz 80Hz
hour(s) spell out three hours, 24 hours three-hour, 24-hour
horsepower HP 1/3 HP 1/3-HP
inch(es) spell out 10 inches 10-inch
joule spell out 800 joules 800-joule
karat K 24K 24K
kilobit Kb 48Kb 48Kb
kilobits per second Kbps 48Kbps 48Kbps
kilobyte KB 128KB 128KB
kilobyte per second KB/sec. 128KB/sec. 128KB/sec.
kilograms spell out 30 kilograms 30-kilogram
kilohertz kHz 24kHz 24kHz
kilometer spell out 5 kilometers 5-kilometer
liter spell out 11 liters 11-liter
lux spell out 1 lux 1-lux
megabit Mb 6Mb 6Mb
megabits per second Mbps 8Mbps 8Mbps
megabyte MB 5MB 5MB
megabytes per second MB/sec. 5MB/sec. 5MB/sec.
megahertz MHz 500MHz 500MHz
megapixel MP 8MP 8MP
meter spell out 9 meters 9-meter
miles spell out 70 miles 70-mile
miles per hour Mph 60 mph 60-mph
milliampere mA 11mA 11mA
milliliter spell out 5 milliliters 5-milliliter
milliampere per hour mAh 12mAh 12mAh
millimeter spell out 4 millimeters 4-millimeter
millisecond spell out 7 milliseconds 7-millisecond
milliwatt mW 2000mW 2000mW
minute spell out two minutes, 11 two-minute, 11-minute
minutes
month spell out four months, 18 four-month, 18-month
months
nanosecond spell out 7 nanoseconds 7-nanosecond
nanometer spell out 14 nanometers 14-nanometer
ohms spell out 7 ohms 7-ohm
ounce(s) spell out 4 ounces 4-ounce
pages per minute ppm 16 ppm 16-ppm
percent percent 5 percent, 50 percent 5 percent, 50 percent
pixels p 50p 50p
pixels per inch ppi 1100 ppi 1100-ppi
pound (for paper) # 40# 40#
pound spell out 12 pounds 12-pound
quarts spell out 2 quarts 2-quart
revolutions per minute rpm 80 rpm 80-rpm
second spell out two seconds, 12 two-second, 12-second
seconds
square inch(es) spell out 11 square inches 11-square-inch
tablespoon spell out 4 tablespoons 4-tablespoon
teaspoon spell out 2 teaspoons 2-teaspoon
volts V 6V 6V
volts alternating VA 6VA 6VA
current
watts W 60W 60W