Larry Smith <Larry.Smith@snow.edu> indeed puts the the issue to rest with
the info from _Physics Today_ annual buyers guide "Guide for Metric
Practice: Internationally recognized conventions have been established for
standard usage of SI units."
but as a scientist I always want to understand the underlying principle,
which in this case is known as 'the Conservation of Printer's Ink'!
If the name/unit is spelled out, the lower case is used (this
saves/conserves ink) But if it is shortened to the initial, it must be
capitalized (an attempt to keep the amount of ink constant, i.e.
conservation). This rule probably was promulagated by the printer's ink
lobby.
sine-ing off
-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-
\ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /
`-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-'
Chuck Britton britton@odie.ncssm.edu North Carolina School of Science & Math