milligram

Everyday

A milligram is a very small unit of mass equal to one thousandth of a gram. tree →

In the lessons

In maths and science lessons, 1000 milligrams = 1 gram and 1000 grams = 1 kilogram; milligrams measure tiny amounts, like medicine doses or vitamins on food labels. In everyday safety, medicine labels give the dose in mg. Common phrases: «milligrams per day», «a 200 mg tablet», «mg of salt».

Examples

• There are 1000 milligrams in one gram. tree →
• Each tablet contains 200 milligrams of ibuprofen. tree →
• A grain of salt weighs about a tenth of a milligram. tree →
• The label says 30 mg of vitamin C in each glass. tree →
• Convert 3 grams to milligrams: 3 × 1000 = 3000 mg. tree →
• A mosquito weighs about two milligrams. tree →
• The doctor checked the dose in milligrams. tree →

Note

Plural: milligrams. Symbol: mg (no full stop, no s: 50 mg). «Milli-» means one thousandth. Trap: do not mix up mg (milligram) and ml (millilitre); mg measures mass, ml measures volume. To change grams to milligrams, multiply by 1000; milligrams to grams, divide by 1000.