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AP Style for Measurements & Units

1. Why AP Style for Measurements & Units Matters

A writer who mishandles measurements looks inconsistent, confusing, or unprofessional.

A writer who follows AP Style presents measurements that are clear, readable, and universally understood.

Correct measurement formatting improves:

  • Clarity
  • Professionalism
  • Reader trust
  • SEO consistency
  • Mobile readability
  • Data accuracy
  • Editorial consistency

Every Total Apex contributor must master AP Style measurements because they appear constantly in news, sports, gaming, entertainment, lifestyle, tech, and guides.

2. AP Style Basics for Measurements

AP Style answers the question:

Is this measurement clear, consistent, and easy for readers to understand?

AP Style uses numerals for all measurements, regardless of size.

Correct

  • 5 miles
  • 3 feet
  • 2 inches
  • 7 pounds

Incorrect

  • five miles
  • three feet

3. Units of Measurement (General Rules)

A. Always Use Numerals

AP Style uses numerals for all units.

Correct

  • 5 feet tall
  • 3 inches wide
  • 2 liters of water

B. Spell Out Units (No Abbreviations)

AP Style spells out units in most writing.

Correct

  • 5 miles
  • 10 pounds
  • 3 inches

Incorrect

  • 5 mi.
  • 10 lbs.
  • 3 in.

Exception: Scientific, technical, or tabular content may use abbreviations.

C. Hyphenate Compound Adjectives

When a measurement describes a noun before it, hyphenate it.

Correct

  • a 5‑mile run
  • a 10‑pound weight
  • a 6‑foot player

Incorrect

  • a 5 mile run
  • a 10 pound weight

When the measurement comes after the noun, do NOT hyphenate.

Correct

  • The run was 5 miles.
  • The player is 6 feet tall.

4. Height, Weight, Length, Width

A. Height

Correct

  • He is 6 feet tall.
  • She is 5 feet 7 inches.
  • a 6‑foot‑2 guard

Incorrect

  • He is 6 ft. tall.
  • She is 5’7” (AP Style avoids symbols)

B. Weight

Correct

  • He weighs 180 pounds.
  • a 200‑pound player

Incorrect

  • He weighs 180 lbs.

C. Length & Width

Correct

  • a 10‑inch screen
  • a 6‑foot table
  • The table is 6 feet long.

Incorrect

  • a 10” screen
  • a 6 ft. table

AP Style avoids inch/foot symbols unless in technical contexts.

5. Distance & Speed

A. Distance

Correct

  • 5 miles
  • 10 kilometers
  • a 3‑mile stretch

Incorrect

  • 5 mi.
  • 10 km

B. Speed

Correct

  • 60 mph
  • a 5‑mph wind

Incorrect

  • 60 m.p.h.
  • 5 miles per hour

AP Style allows mph as an exception.

6. Temperature

A. Use Numerals + Degree Symbol

Correct

  • It was 75 degrees.
  • a 10‑degree drop

Incorrect

  • It was seventy‑five degrees.
  • 75° (AP Style avoids the ° symbol)

AP Style spells out “degrees.”

7. Time & Duration

Correct

  • a 5‑hour drive
  • a 30‑minute delay
  • The meeting lasted 2 hours.

Incorrect

  • a 5 hr. drive
  • a 30 min. delay

Spell out hours/minutes.

8. Volume & Capacity

Correct

  • 2 liters
  • 3 gallons
  • a 12‑ounce drink

Incorrect

  • 2 L
  • 3 gal.
  • 12 oz.

AP Style spells out units unless in scientific/technical contexts.

9. Scientific & Technical Exceptions

AP Style allows abbreviations in:

  • Charts
  • Tables
  • Scientific writing
  • Technical specs
  • Data‑heavy content

Allowed Abbreviations

  • cm
  • mm
  • kg
  • ml
  • kW
  • Hz

Example

  • The device weighs 2.4 kg.
  • The screen measures 144 Hz.

These are exceptions — not the norm.

10. Sports, Gaming, and Entertainment Measurement Rules

Sports

  • a 6‑foot‑4 forward
  • a 40‑yard dash
  • a 10‑mile race

Gaming

  • a 20‑second cooldown
  • a 5‑meter radius
  • a 3‑hour campaign

Entertainment

  • a 2‑hour episode
  • a 10‑minute scene
  • a 12‑song album

Measurements appear everywhere — consistency is essential.

11. Common AP Style Measurement Mistakes (and Fixes)

A. Using abbreviations

❌ 5 ft.  

✔️ 5 feet

B. Using inch/foot symbols

❌ 5’7”  

✔️ 5 feet 7 inches

C. Forgetting hyphens

❌ a 10 mile run  

✔️ a 10‑mile run

D. Using spelled‑out numbers

❌ five miles  

✔️ 5 miles

E. Using ° symbol

❌ 75°  

✔️ 75 degrees

Takeaway for Total Apex Writers

AP Style measurements are all about clarity, consistency, and readability.

Total Apex AP Style Measurement Essentials

  • Use numerals for all measurements
  • Spell out units (feet, inches, pounds, miles)
  • Hyphenate compound adjectives
  • Avoid inch/foot symbols
  • Use mph for speed
  • Spell out “degrees”
  • Use abbreviations only in scientific/technical contexts
  • Keep measurements clean and readable

Mastering AP Style measurements ensures every Total Apex article — across news, gaming, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle — is polished, consistent, and newsroom‑ready.