Company Writer's Guide
In text, use the word form of common abbreviations such as percent, degree, number, equal to, plus, minus, less than, greater than, and the like. Symbols should be used in the following cases:
•For temperatures given with a numerical value, use the degree symbol (32°C, etc.).
•For equations, either written
•In graphics (figures and tables), use symbols if space is a problem.
The use of symbols in text should be avoided in most cases. Write out phrases to ensure clarity. For example, use “greater than” instead of “>.” The following generally accepted symbols may be used:
•Delta
• | Degrees Celsius | °C |
• | Degrees Fahrenheit | °F |
• | Plus or minus | ± |
The following symbols should be avoided, but may be used when necessary, such as in tables and figures, to save space:
• | Equal to | = |
• | Approximately | ∼ |
• | Greater than | > |
• | Less than | < |
• Greater than or equal to | ≥ | |
• Less than or equal to | < | |
• | Inches | " |
• | Feet | ' |
• | Number | # |
• | Plus | + |
• | Minus | - |
• | And | & |
[For Illustration Only] |