The Abbreviation for Gram: What Is It and How Is It Used?

Want to know how to abbreviate the word gram? Look no further. Here, we’ll explore the meaning of the word gram and its uses. We’ll also look at the abbreviation and give examples where it’s used instead of the word. Finally, we’ll explore the synonyms and the history behind the word gram. Read on!

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How Do You Abbreviate Gram?

Gram

Noun

There are two ways to abbreviate the word gram.

These are:

  • g
  • gm

A gram is a unit of mass. A long time ago gr or grains was a common unit of mass, though this is now obsolete in modern times.

The plural of gram is grams. The International System of Units recognizes g as the only abbreviation. After a numeric value, include a space and then the abbreviation. For example: 700 g.

To bake the birthday cake, you’ll need two eggs, 180 g of sugar, and 200 g of wheat flour. You’ll also need 500 g of fruit.

Bic pens have a standard weight of approximately 1 g.

The recently released iPhone 6 is heavier than the iPhone 5S. It weighs approximately 172 gm. However, the 5S weighs 129 gm.

During his last visit to the vet, the puppy weighed 600 g. The owner was advised to continue with the nutrition program and regular checks.

It is very common to see this abbreviation, along with other units of measure, in recipes in print or online. When specifying formulas in scientific documents—which include but are not limited to studies, hypotheses, instructions, and essays—one may use g or gm. They can be used with or without a period, though a period is usually omitted. Other abbreviations, such as gr (grain) or Gm (gigametre), may not be used to represent gram. 

The Definition of the Word

According to Wikipedia, a gram is a metric mass unit that is recognized by the International System of Units (SI).

Originally, it was defined as the absolute weight of a volume of pure water (maximum density), which is equal to a cubic centimeter.

According to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, it is one-thousandth of a kilogram. 

On the other hand, the common ton is a non-SI unit commonly used in the US. It is equal to 907.19 kg. A metric ton is equal to 1,000 kg. 

Examples:

The United States cent weighs 2.5 g.

According to Dictionary.com, the word gram means a metric unit of measure, which is equal to 15.432 grains.

History and Origin of the Word

The French National Convention in 1795 adopted the word gramme. At that time, it was the weight of a cubic centimeter.

This decree revised the metric system by replacing the gravet, which was introduced in 1793. French gramme was derived from the Latin term gramma. The gram was considered a fundamental unit of mass in the 19th Century, used in the centimetre–gram–second system of units.

In Latin, gramma meant one twenty-fourth of an ounce, which was equivalent to 1.14 modern grams.

The gram is currently the most widely used unit of measurement for non-liquid substances and is equivalent to 0.001 of a kilogram. Over the years, the gram has been replaced by the kilogram as the official SI base unit.

Other examples:

The fireworks consist of 10 g of gunpowder.

The company will pay almost $50,000 per gram.

Synonyms for Gram

Examples of the Word in Context

“The AHA limits for children vary depending on their age and caloric needs, but range between 3-6 teaspoons (12 – 25 grams) per day.”
—University of California San Francisco

“The recommended limit for the daily dose of sugar for improved health is around 11 grams, or roughly no more than 5% of daily calorie intake. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this number should never exceed 25 grams. Many people consume far more than the recommendation.”
—WorldAtlas.com

“The average person in the United States consumes around 17 teaspoons, or 71.14 grams, of added sugar per day, which far exceeds recommended limits. A gram (g) of sugar contains about 4 calories, which means that many people consume almost 270 calories a day from added sugar alone.”
—MedicalNewsToday.com

“I weighed a piece of printer paper (4.5 grams), a plastic grocery bag (5.5 grams), and an empty soda can (13.5 grams). A plastic bag weighs more than a piece of paper, and three plastic bags exceed the weight of a can. Bags also have the added advantage of being easy to transport: You can’t stuff an empty six-pack into a single can.”
—Stanford Magazine

“Lastly, you may wonder why I use ‘grams’ (metric) instead of ‘ounces’ when I live in the United States where metric is not used. The reason is ‘gram’ measurements are so much easier to work with. You can scale a recipe up or down with little effort. But the major reason is because the word ‘ounce’ can refer to both volume (capacity) and weight (mass). There are ‘weight’ ounces and there are ‘fluid’ ounces. For example, you can have 4 ounces of flour (weight) and 4 fluid ounces of milk (volume).”
—JoyofBaking.com

“Calories: 50; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Trans Fat: 0 g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 0 g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 35 mg; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 0 g; Protein: 0 g.”
—The Washington Post

Sources:

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram
  2. https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/gram
  3. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gram
  4. https://www.britannica.com/science/International-System-of-Units
  5. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/top-sugar-consuming-nations-in-the-world.html
  6. https://www.synonym.com/synonym/
  7. https://sugarscience.ucsf.edu/the-growing-concern-of-overconsumption.html#.XhOcVq2ZOi4
  8. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324673.php
  9. https://stanfordmag.org/contents/plastic-bags-to-recycle-or-not-essential-answer
  10.  https://www.joyofbaking.com/WeightvsVolumeMeasurement.html
  11. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2020/01/06/for-a-tasty-snack-or-cheese-board-companion-make-these-roasted-orange-slices/