Does siunitx (or any other unit package) have a way of showing plural units?
For example, \SI{1}{\bit}
should (and does) render "1 bit".
But \SI{20}{\bit}
should render "20 bits"; instead, it renders "20 bit".
I understand that this isn't always the default (for example, if you want to talk about a "32-bit operating system"), but is there an option that would enable this?
To support validity of this question I can give and example where IEEE in their 'Editorial Style Manual' require that "Plurals of units of measure take the “s.” For example, the plural form of 3 mil is 3 mils; 3 bits/s instead of 3 bit/s".
\DeclareSIUnit{\bits}{bits}
.\SI
are symbols and should not take a plural. In your case you should simply type$20$~bits
The length is $5$~metres. It's a $5$-metre cable.
butThe length is $5$\,m$. It's a $5$\,m cable.
The long variants can't be expressed usingsiunitx
, the short can. Now, the problem withbit
is that it's a unit of measure whose shorthand is simplybit
.