Should I use the word "degree" or the symbol ° for expressing angles in a scientific text? [closed]

Solution 1:

I would suggest using the word instead of the symbol in written text (and reserve the symbol for drawings and such). I guess it is a matter of style, but the use of the symbol in text tends to confuse me with degrees as mentioned in temperature.

As for using degree or degrees, do not use the plural whenever specifying more than 1!

When you specific more than 1 degree on its own, yes, you would write 20 degrees.

But since you are also talking about angles, a 20 degree angle is correct.

So in your example sentences (taking into account msam's comment about the nist recommendation):

The yaw angle ranges from -60 degrees to +60 degrees.
We show experimental results for the images with 10 degree and 20 degree pitch angle.
X works well for roll angles smaller than 10 degrees.

Solution 2:

I hardly ever appreciate answers of the type 'Do it this way'. Says me.

SPORTSCIENCE may not be a widely recognised authority, but certainly cites one:

Use the following Systeme Internationale (SI) abbreviations for units of measurement (Young, 1987) [APA uses some of these abbreviations.]

meter m

millisecond ms

gram g

second s

kilogram kg

minute min

mole mol

hour h

liter L (not l)

day d

milliliter ml

week wk

degree °C

And another article, at Wikipedia has:

Units officially accepted for use with the SI: degree ° plane angle (dimensionless unit) 1° = (π / 180) rad