What is the abbreviation for milligram?

What is the abbreviation for milligram?

• A. mg
• B. Mg
• C. MG
• D. Milligram

Answer: (B)

The standard way to write milligrams is with a lowercase m followed by a lowercase g: mg. The milli- prefix uses a lowercase “m,” and the base unit gram is written as “g,” so mg unambiguously represents one thousandth of a gram. Using any other capitalization can lead to confusion: Mg can denote a megagram (a metric ton) or the element magnesium in chemistry, so it’s not used for milligrams. Spelling out the word “milligram” isn’t the symbol used in measurements either. For practical dosing and labeling, mg is the clear, accepted abbreviation. For example, 5 mg equals 0.005 g.

The standard way to write milligrams is with a lowercase m followed by a lowercase g: mg. The milli- prefix uses a lowercase “m,” and the base unit gram is written as “g,” so mg unambiguously represents one thousandth of a gram. Using any other capitalization can lead to confusion: Mg can denote a megagram (a metric ton) or the element magnesium in chemistry, so it’s not used for milligrams. Spelling out the word “milligram” isn’t the symbol used in measurements either. For practical dosing and labeling, mg is the clear, accepted abbreviation. For example, 5 mg equals 0.005 g.