[NTG-context] Spacing in \unit

Max Chernoff mseven at telus.net
Mon Oct 10 08:15:12 CEST 2022

Hi Alan,

> I would very strongly argue that the space between the number and the
> following units be UNBREAKABLE. Perhaps a thin space (preference), but
> most certainly non-breakable.
>
> Similarly around the times in scientific notation.
>
> I further cannot imagine that a line break be acceptable around a \cdot
> in composite units.
>
> This can possibly lead to overfill and underfill, something that I find
> *infinitely* more acceptable then breaking numbers and units.

Yes, I agree completely here.

> I do not know or use the \units command. Maybe it uses unbreakable
> spaces, maybe not. I would never use it unless it could be configured
> to only use nonbreakable spaces.

The current behaviour doesn't break the unit from the number, but it
does split the scientific notation.

This test file:

\starttext
\hsize=0pt Math: $G = \unit{6.6743e-11 m3 kg-1 s-2}$

\hsize=0pt Text: \unit{6.6743e-11 m3 kg-1 s-2}
\stoptext

gives:

Math:
𝐺=
6.6743×
10–11m3⋅kg–1⋅s–2
Text:
6.6743
×
10−11 m3⋅kg−1⋅s−2

which isn't great. In my opinion, the \unit command should be typeset in an
\hbox (or similar) since I can't think of any circumstances where breaking
it would be reasonable.

Thanks,
-- Max