I think the other guide quoted that said the thousands marker guidance does not apply to financial data is right.
However, the SI Brochure (5.3.3 and 5.3.4) require acceptance of either the comma or dot as decimal marker, and neither as a thousands marker, as well as requiring the leading zero on decimal numbers less than unity. Finally, note that a thousands separator is not necessary if there are only four digits either left or right of the decimal. Ideally, the space used as a thousands separator should be a thin space, more important is that it should be non-breaking. While Unicode has a code for a thin non-breaking space, it is not correctly implemented in many browsers. A normal non-breaking space (Alt0160 on a PC) is probably a better choice (or restrict the line length so breaking is not a concern). NIST SP 330 agrees with the SI Brochure on these points. As an American, I certainly understand we have conflicting standards and there are times you need to use the comma as a thousands separator (financial data, possibly Customary data). However, teaching Americans incorrect SI style is doing them no favor, and SI information should always comply with SI style guidelines. Since your graphic is to promote SI usage, I think you should take the advice to use correct SI style as constructive and follow it. As to whether you should change your Excel default, that is tougher, as you may need to swing both ways. ________________________________ From: "cont...@metricpioneer.com" <cont...@metricpioneer.com> To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2014 12:42 AM Subject: [USMA:54119] RE: Don't be a dunce! Default Excel US setting is commas to separate digits into groups of three because that is what people in the United States commonly use. I was taught that in school and it is what we use at work. I process financial contracts for the State of Oregon. News articles, TV news, banks, et cetera all use commas to separate digits into groups of three here in the United States. It would be great if everyone on the planet used the same scheme, but the world is a messy place. ----- Message from Michael Payne <metricmik...@gmail.com> --------- Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 06:20:53 +0200 From: Michael Payne <metricmik...@gmail.com> Reply-To: metricmik...@gmail.com Subject: [USMA:54115] RE: Don't be a dunce! To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu> Not so. http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP811/sec07.html#7.2 Somewhere in there! I had it marked in my copy at home, and I’m not home for a couple of weeks. > >NIST recommends: 123 456 789.987 654 321 >Your present format 123,456,789.987654321 >Comma format 123 456 789,987 654 321 > >Because of differing world standards, different countries use the comma or dot >as the decimal marker, others use the dot or comma as the thousand separator, >it’s important to be able to communicate what you mean. NIST has established >the standard as being a space for separating thousands and leaving the option >of a dot or comma as the decimal point. > >Excel can be set up to show the spacing. Format>Cells>number select “use 1000 >separator”. I’ve got my computer set up to use the space as the 1000 separator >just by setting it up that way. > >In word you can shift/space bar and it will give you an invisible space that >will hold a number together on a line. > >Mike Payne > > >On 14 Jul 2014, at 04:51, cont...@metricpioneer.com wrote: > > >Harold. Americans use commas or spaces. We love our freedom. >> >>----- Message from Harold_Potsdamer <harold_potsda...@cox.net> --------- >> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 20:07:41 -0400 >> From: Harold_Potsdamer <harold_potsda...@cox.net> >>Reply-To: harold_potsda...@cox.net >>Subject: [USMA:54113] RE: Don't be a dunce! >> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu> >>Not only that, commas dividing thousands which should be spaces. >>> >>> >>>From: br...@bjwhite.net >>>Sent: Sunday, 2014-07-13 14:26 >>>To: U.S. Metric Association >>>Subject: [USMA:54111] RE: Don't be a dunce! >>> No zeroes on the leading decimals? Tsk tsk tsk. :) >>> >>>-------- Original Message -------- >>>>Subject: [USMA:54110] Don't be a dunce! >>>>From: cont...@metricpioneer.com >>>>Date: Sun, July 13, 2014 11:22 am >>>>To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu> >>>> >>>> >>>>Posted on Facebook and Twitter today: >>>>Don't be a dunce! http://MetricPioneer.com/Metrication-America >>>>David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917 >> >> >> >>----- End message from Harold_Potsdamer <harold_potsda...@cox.net> ----- >> >>David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917 ----- End message from Michael Payne <metricmik...@gmail.com> ----- David Pearl www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917
