Prefixes

Decided: use SDN (Systematic Dozenal Nomenclature, Dozenal Society of America).

Why: it's an existing standard, it's systematic (prefixes are built from digit names, not memorised), and it extends to any power. Roots for X and E were changed to dek / el to match the spoken digits.

Advantage: a prefix for any power can be built on the spot, and the system is already documented and in use.

Digit roots: 0 nil, 1 un, 2 bi, 3 tri, 4 quad, 5 pent, 6 hex, 7 sept, 8 oct, 9 enn, X dek, E el (SDN's own roots for X and E are dec and lev; changed to match the spoken digit names)

  • multiply by 10^n: root(s) + -qua (unqua- ×10, biqua- ×100, triqua- ×1,000, ... unnilqua- ×10^10)
  • divide by 10^n: root(s) + -cia (uncia- ÷10, bicia- ÷100, tricia- ÷1,000, ...)
  • uncia = Latin "a twelfth" (origin of inch and ounce)
  • Common sizes also get short everyday names (unc = uncia-pace, dig = bicia-pace)
  • Prefix symbols: see Prefix symbols, below

Prefix symbols

Decided: initials of the SDN digit roots, then q (multiply) or c (divide). The last letter is always q or c, so a symbol can always be read unambiguously.

Why: built from the SDN roots we already use, so there's no separate table to memorise. Ending in q or c keeps them unambiguous even though some roots share initials (quad / qua).

Advantage: nothing new to learn, and any prefix symbol can be read back without a table.

Decided: in typeset text (print, web pages, PDFs) the q and c are shown as Primel's arrows: ↑ for multiply and ↓ for divide, so tqop is set as t↑op and tcli as t↓li. Plain text keeps q and c.

Why: adopt prior art: Primel already writes the same prefixes with the same letters and arrows, so Paludal and Primel documents look alike. q and c stay for plain text, where arrows can't always be typed.

Advantage: the direction of a prefix shows at a glance, Primel readers can read Paludal symbols as they stand, and the plain-text form still works on any keyboard.

Digit 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 X E
Root nil un bi tri quad pent hex sept oct enn dek el
Letter n u b t q p h s o e d l
  • uq ×10, bq ×100, tq ×1,000, unq ×10^10; uc ÷10, bc ÷100, tc ÷1,000 (typeset: u↑ ×10, b↑ ×100, t↑ ×1,000, un↑ ×10^10; u↓ ÷10, b↓ ÷100, t↓ ÷1,000)
  • Prefix goes straight onto the unit symbol: 3 t↑p = 3 triqua-paces, 5 b↓li = 5 bicia-libs
  • The named sizes keep their own symbols: unc = un (= u↓p), dig = di (= b↓p)
  • el's letter is l ("el" is how L is said); e is taken by enn
  • Watch: enn's "e" (9) is easily confused with the digit E (el); bq looks like Bq (becquerel)

Prefix matrix

Each unit in the middle, with its fractions to the left and multiples to the right, one step of twelve at a time. Sizes that have their own name are in bold; use the name rather than the prefix form (a dig, not a b↓p).

tricia- ÷1,000 bicia- ÷100 uncia- ÷10 Unit unqua- ×10 biqua- ×100 triqua- ×1,000
t↓bl
201 µs		 b↓bl
2.41 ms		 u↓bl
28.9 ms		 blink bl
0.347 s		 breath br
4.17 s		 moment mt
50 s		 t↑bl
10 min
t↓p (lin, proposed)
0.841 mm		 dig di
1.01 cm		 unc un
12.1 cm		 pace p
1.45 m		 u↑p
17.4 m		 b↑p
209 m		 iter ir
2.51 km
t↓li
1.03 g		 b↓li
12.3 g		 u↓li
148 g		 lib li
1.77 kg		 u↑li
21.3 kg		 b↑li
255 kg		 t↑li
3.06 t
t↓te
402 µK		 b↓te
4.82 mK		 u↓te
57.9 mK		 tep °t
0.694 K		 u↑te
8.33 K		 b↑te
100 K		 t↑te
1.2 kK
t↓ri
7.11 mA		 b↓ri
85.3 mA		 u↓ri
1.02 A		 riv ri
12.3 A		 u↑ri
147 A		 b↑ri
1.77 kA		 t↑ri
21.2 kA
t↓gx
593 µmol		 b↓gx
7.12 mmol		 u↓gx
85.4 mmol		 grex gx
1.02 mol		 u↑gx
12.3 mol		 b↑gx
148 mol		 t↑gx
1.77 kmol
t↓la
567 µcd		 b↓la
6.81 mcd		 u↓la
81.7 mcd		 lam la
0.980 cd		 u↑la
11.8 cd		 b↑la
141 cd		 t↑la
1.69 kcd
t↓cu
1.03 mL		 b↓cu
12.3 mL		 u↓cu
148 mL		 cub cu
1.77 L		 u↑cu
21.3 L		 b↑cu
255 L		 t↑cu
3.06 m³
t↓vi
12.4 mN		 b↓vi
148 mN		 u↓vi
1.78 N		 vis vi
21.3 N		 u↑vi
256 N		 b↑vi
3.07 kN		 t↑vi
36.9 kN
t↓op
17.9 mJ		 b↓op
215 mJ		 u↓op
2.58 J		 opus op
31 J		 u↑op
372 J		 b↑op
4.46 kJ		 t↑op
53.6 kJ
t↓vg
51.7 mW		 b↓vg
620 mW		 u↓vg
7.44 W		 vig vg
89.3 W		 u↑vg
1.07 kW		 b↑vg
12.9 kW		 t↑vg
154 kW
t↓pr
5.85 mPa		 b↓pr
70.2 mPa		 u↓pr
843 mPa		 pres pr
10.1 Pa		 u↑pr
121 Pa		 b↑pr
1.46 kPa		 t↑pr
17.5 kPa
t↓os
2.47 mC		 b↓os
29.6 mC		 u↓os
355 mC		 onus os
4.27 C		 u↑os
51.2 C		 b↑os
614 C		 t↑os
7.37 kC
t↓im
4.21 mV		 b↓im
50.5 mV		 u↓im
606 mV		 imp im
7.27 V		 u↑im
87.2 V		 b↑im
1.05 kV		 t↑im
12.6 kV
  • Named sizes that aren't a single prefix step: beat = 3 bl; chime = 10,000 bl (q↑bl, 2 h); the day = 100,000 bl (p↑bl); span = 0;2 p; ulna = 0;4 p; gress = 0;6 p; navis = 930 p; parax (star distances); ager = 1,000 p² (t↑p² would be read as (t↑p)², so it gets a name)
  • Prefixed temperatures use the plain-text symbol te (t↓te), as °C is rarely prefixed; they're for science only
  • t↑bl is 0;1 chime (10 minutes), which has no name yet (see Open items)