CMS Metric Documentation & Communication

Question 1

According to NIST SP 811, how should a space be used when writing metric quantities?

Accepted Answer

A space between the number and the unit symbol

Answer

No space between number and unit symbol

Answer

A hyphen between number and unit symbol

Answer

Parentheses around the unit symbol

Question 2

When writing metric unit symbols, they should be:

Accepted Answer

Lowercase except those derived from proper names

Answer

Always capitalized

Answer

Always lowercase

Answer

Italicized

Question 3

Which is the correct way to express a range of measurements?

Accepted Answer

Both A and B are acceptable per NIST SP 811

Answer

5 to 10 kg

Answer

5 kg to 10 kg

Answer

5-10 kg

Question 4

The correct symbol for 'micrometre' is:

Accepted Answer

µm

Answer

mm

Answer

um

Answer

mcm

Question 5

When expressing large numbers in metric documentation, the preferred separator is:

Accepted Answer

Spaces (e.g., 1 000 000)

Answer

Commas (e.g., 1,000,000)

Answer

Periods (e.g., 1.000.000)

Answer

Underscores (e.g., 1_000_000)

Question 6

Metric unit symbols should be pluralized by adding 's' when the value is greater than 1.

Accepted Answer

False — unit symbols are never pluralized

Answer

True

Answer

Only for base units

Answer

Only in informal writing