gram

Everyday

1. A gram is a small unit for measuring how heavy something is (its mass). A paper clip weighs about one gram. tree →
2. A kilogram is 1000 grams. tree →
3. In the UK the spelling gramme is sometimes seen. tree →
4. Gram is the name of a magic sword in old Norse stories, belonging to the hero Sigurd. tree →

In the lessons

A unit of weight (mass); 1000 grams make 1 kilogram, and a milligram is one thousandth of a gram. In science: we weigh things in grams on a scale; 1 millilitre of water weighs about 1 gram. In everyday life: food labels show grams of sugar and fat. Phrases: «grams of», «per 100 grams», «g» after a number (250 g).

Examples

• An apple weighs 150 grams. tree →
• A bag has 500 grams of flour. tree →
• Each sweet is 5 grams. tree →
• How many grams are in 2 kilograms? tree →
• The recipe needs 200 g of butter. tree →
• This cereal has 12 grams of sugar in a bowl. tree →
• We weighed the leaf on the science scale: 3 grams. tree →
• A coin weighs about 5 grams. tree →
• But Sigurd waited till half of him had crawled over the pit, and then he thrust the sword Gram right into his very heart. tree →

Note

A kilogram has 1000 grams. A unit, not a thing counted. Trap: change kilograms to grams (× 1000) before adding them together. Write «g» with no full stop and no s: 5 g. Do not confuse with «-gram» at the end of words like telegram or diagram.