Olin Lathrop wrote:

> Absolutely not.  Power dissipation is often important, sometimes max
> voltage, and then there are various package variants.  What would you assume
> if I said I needed a "1206 resistor"?  Probably not 1,206 ohms.

You are argumenting sloppily :)  You're forgetting the "k" that followed
the "3". "A resistor of 3" is nothing you'd commonly read, and is not what
the example was. The example was "a resistor of 3k". The "k" does make an
important difference.

Could you please give a common meaning for a resistor value of "3k" that is
/not/ "three kilo-ohms"? Voltage is possible, however since it is a
secondary characteristic of a resistor, it is commonly made explicit.

You seem to have a severe problem with context. I'm not sure we can solve
this here for you; a more profound treatment may be indicated.


> I don't make a distinction between "3S" and "3s" in this case.  

The question was not whether "3S" can be understood; it was whether it's
correct. 

Your example of "a resistor of 3k" is understood by more than 99.9% of this
mailing list (this is, everybody except you), yet you think that "That sort
of sloppiness must never be tolerated." 

"My clock is delayed by 3S" is understood by approximately the same
percentage of readers, but you think this is perfectly tolerable. 

To me, the only objective difference between the two examples is that one
is one you commonly used, while the other is one you don't commonly use. No
other difference here. Based on this only distinction, your rule basically
seems to be "whatever Olin uses is fine for everybody else to use, and
whatever Olin doesn't use you shouldn't use either." Hm... "King Olin"? :)


> Whether anyone likes it or not, and regardless of what standards agency
> says it should be a particular way, the fact is it's not commonly
> adhered to.  [...] I think saying either in this context is fine since
> it's perfectly clear.

I can follow you here, easily. I'm not sure though whether you can follow
yourself here :)  

Either you say that using correct units is important, then "my clock is
delayed by 3S" is just wrong. Or you say that whatever is commonly used and
understood by most is ok to use, then saying "a resistor of 3k" is
perfectly fine.

You can't have it both ways... not with a minimum of consistency in the
logic, at least.

Gerhard

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