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

Do you want to know the right way to abbreviate miles? We’ll be sharing the meaning of the word and also common abbreviations. This guide will also shed light on common synonyms and the history of the word. Finally, we’ll look at a few examples of how to use the word and abbreviation in context.

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First, let’s look at the abbreviation of the word:

 ●      Mi. 

The same abbreviation is used for the singular and plural form. This unit of measurement is typically abbreviated with a lowercase M and a period. In a title or headline, use an uppercase M. Abbreviating the word without punctuation is also correct. 

Example:

●      Manhattan is 24 mi. from here.

What Does Mile Mean?

Dictionary.com defines mile as follows:

Mile [Mahyl] 

noun

Also called statute mile. a unit of distance on land in English-speaking countries equal to 5280 feet, or 1760 yards (1.609 kilometers).

nautical mile.

international nautical mile.

any of various other units of distance or length at different periods and in different countries.Compare Roman mile.

a notable distance or margin: 

missed the target by a mile.

Abbreviation: mi, mi.

Synonyms for Miles

The History of the Word

The Latin word milia, which means “thousands,” provided the source for the English word mile, along with the French mille, the Spanish milla, and the Italian miglio. Whereas the ancient Roman mile consisted of approximately 4,860 feet, many variants developed, including the London mile (5,000 feet) and the medieval English mile (6,610 feet).

Today, the mile is used in the United States, Great Britain, and several other countries that have not switched over to the metric system, which uses meters and kilometers as measures of linear distance. 

Interestingly, the word mile also referred to a unit of time in Middle English. The mile was defined as the time it took to walk a mile (20 minutes). 

When To Use This Abbreviation

The abbreviation mi. is very commonly used. You’ll see it on road signs, expense reports, and maps. Miles can also be written using shorthand acronyms, such as miles per hour (MPH) or miles per gallon (MPG). The abbreviation also appears in headlines, titles, and notes, anywhere space is limited. 

Examples of the Word and Abbreviation in Context

“If you play with more triangles on a globe (or a grapefruit), you will find that the total area of the triangle increases proportionally to the total angle of the triangle. You can’t find a golden triangle-shaped triangle on the earth with cities that are thousands of miles apart. Spherical geometry won’t let you do that.”
—Scientific American

“On page 5, one of the most significant modifications relates to a now limited warranty to the battery pack in what relates to mileage. Previously, it had just a span of eight years for all cars apart from the 60 kWh pack, which also had a 125,000 mi (200,000 km) limit.”
—INSIDE EVs

“Arkansas State Parks and the Walton Family Foundation are collaborating on a $40 million project to complete an 84.5-mile trail in the Delta region of Southeast Arkansas. Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Thursday (Jan. 30) the Walton Family Foundation awarded Arkansas State Parks with a $20 million matching grant to complete the Delta Heritage Trail over the next five years.”
—Talk Business & Politics

“Once the speed cameras are fully operational, there will be a 60-day warning period before fines are issued, after which any vehicle recorded traveling more than 11 miles per hour over the speed limit will be subject to a fine up to $150, depending on the speed at which the vehicle is traveling.”
—The Philadelphia Inquirer

Sources:  

  1. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mile?s=t
  2. https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/mile?s=t
  3. https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=mile
  4. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/roots-of-unity/forget-meters-and-feet/ 
  5. https://insideevs.com/news/396389/tesla-warranty-terms-change/
  6. https://talkbusiness.net/2020/01/walton-family-foundation-gives-20-million-to-complete-84-mile-trail-in-arkansas-delta/ 
  7. https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/speed-cameras-roosevelt-boulevard-philadelphia-vision-zero-20200128.html