[Tex/LaTex] Best way to typeset micrometers

fontsunits

It seems to be generally well accepted that the correct way to typeset a value with units is to separate the number from the units by a space, and write the units in an upright font. For example,

One hellameter is \( 1.0\times10^{27} \) m.

The symbol for 'micro-' is the Greek letter mu, but if you compile

At the telecom wavelength of \( 1.55\ \mu \)m ...

then the spacing will be correct and the 'm' will be upright, but the 'mu' won't be.

How do you produce an upright lowercase mu? More generally, how do you make any Greek letter appear upright?

Best Answer

The siunitx package does this 'properly' without the user needing to worry

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{siunitx}
\begin{document}
  \SI{1.55}{\micro\metre}
\end{document}

(Note: I am the author of siunitx, which is the successor to both SIunits and SIstyle.)

Of course, for the more general question about upright Greek letters then the upgreek package is indeed the best plan.

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