How do you write kilometres?

Writing Kilometres Correctly

When writing kilometres, it’s crucial to adhere to specific conventions to ensure clarity and consistency. Here are the key guidelines:

Abbreviation

Kilometres are denoted by the lowercase abbreviation “km.” This applies regardless of the capitalization of surrounding text. For example:

• I drove 100 km to the city.
• The marathon is 42 km long.

Avoid Incorrect Abbreviations

Incorrect abbreviations for kilometres include “kmh” and “kph.” The correct abbreviation is always “km/h.”

• The car’s speedometer reads 120 km/h.
• The average hiker travels at a pace of 5 km/h.

Example

To illustrate the correct usage, consider the following sentence:

“A swift cyclist might sustain 25 km/h for extended periods.”

In this sentence, “km/h” is the correct abbreviation for kilometres per hour, indicating the speed that the cyclist can maintain over a certain distance.