Abbreviate customary units of measurement

Learning Objectives Identify the full word for a given customary unit abbreviation (e.g., know that 'in.' means 'inch'). Write the correct abbreviation for a given customary unit of measurement (e.g., write 'ft.' for 'foot'). Use the correct punctuation (a period) for most customary unit abbreviations. Explain that abbreviations are used to save space and time in writing. Apply the rule that abbreviations for units of measurement do not change for plural amounts (e.g., 1 ft., 5 ft.). Correctly use abbreviations for length, weight, and volume in simple sentences. Have you ever seen a recipe that says to add '2 c.' of flour or a sign that says a bridge is '10 ft.' tall? 🤔 Let's figure out what those short words...

TermDefinitionExample AbbreviationA short way to write a long word. It helps save space.The abbreviation for the word 'inch' is 'in.'. Customary UnitThe system of measurement most commonly used in the United States to measure things.Inches, feet, pounds, and gallons are all customary units. LengthA measurement of how long something is from end to end.The length of a new crayon is about 3 inches. WeightA measurement of how heavy an object is.A cat might have a weight of 10 pounds. VolumeA measurement of how much space a liquid takes up.A large jug of juice might have a volume of one gallon. PeriodThe small dot used at the end of many abbreviations to show that the word has been shortened.We put a period after 'gal' to make the abbreviation 'gal.'.

The Period Rule Full Word → Abbreviation. Most abbreviations for customary units end with a period. This little dot signals that the word is a shortened version. For example, 'ounce' becomes 'oz.'. The Singular and Plural Rule 1 unit = abbreviation; 5 units = abbreviation The abbreviation stays the same whether you are measuring one thing or many things. You never add an 's' to the abbreviation. For example, we write '1 lb.' for one pound and '10 lb.' for ten pounds. The Lowercase Letter Rule Use lowercase letters. Abbreviations for customary units are almost always written in lowercase letters, not capital letters. For example, the abbreviation for 'yard' is 'yd.', not 'Yd.'.