You'll learn about common units of measurement used in different parts of the English-speaking world, and how to convert from one unit to another.
Write and read the measurements
To read (measurements) in English, read the number and then follow the name of the unit of measurement, which is often written abbreviated.
Use numerals, not words, for numbers when you are referring to a unit of measurement:
- Always use numerals next to a unit of measurement.
- Include a non-breaking space between the number and the unit.
Examples:
| Said | Written |
|---|---|
| Sixty meters | 60 m |
| Twenty-five kilometers per hour | 25 km/h |
| Eleven feet | 11 ft |
| Two liters | 2 L |
| Three tablespoons | 3 tbsp |
| One teaspoon | 1 tsp |
Measure words in English
In linguistics, measure words are words (or morphemes) that are used in combination with a numeral to indicate an amount of something represented by some noun.
Measure words are familiar to English-speakers as a way to classify the type of object being discussed. For example, you would say a “loaf” of bread or a “stick” of gum.
1. Sewing items
- A (square) foot/meter of cloth
- A skein of yarn
- A spool of thread
- A yard/meter of ribbon
2. Food
- A cube of ice
- A box of cereal
- A bag of flour
- A clove of garlic
- A bowl of rice
- A can of soup
- A carton of ice cream
- A dash of salt
- A grain of wheat
- A head of lettuce
- A jar of peanut butter
- A kernel of corn
- A loaf of bread
- A pack of gum
- A package of pasta
- A piece of cake
- A plate of rice
- A pound of meat
- A slice of bread
- A spear of asparagus
- A stalk of celery
- An ear of corn
3. Liquid / gas
- A bottle of soda
- A cup of coffee
- A drop of oil
- A gallon of punch
- A glass of soda
- A half gallon of juice
- A jug of lemonade
- A keg of beer
- A pint of blood
- A quart of milk
- A shot of vodka
- A tablespoon of vinegar
- A tank of gas
- A teaspoon of medicine
4. Personal items
- A ball of cotton
- A bar of soap
- A bottle of perfume
- A container of shampoo
- A roll of toilet paper
- A stick of deodorant
- A tube of toothpaste
5. Stationery
- A bottle of glue
- A jar of paste
- A pad of paper
- A pair of scissors
- A piece of chalk
- A roll of tape
- A stick of chalk
- A tube of glue