| − | The '''Mega year ago''', often abbreviated as Ma or Mya <ref>http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/socal/geology/geologic_history/images/geologic_time_scale.jpg</ref>, is a useful shorthand notation for long times that is more concise than [[scientific notation]]. One Ma is equal to one million years. In [[evolutionist]] and [[secular]] accounts of the development of the earth, the time for [[geology|geological]] events such as the formation of a [[mountain]] to unfold is typically on the order of a few Ma. | + | The '''Mega year ago''', often abbreviated as Ma or Mya,<ref>http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/socal/geology/geologic_history/images/geologic_time_scale.jpg</ref> is a useful shorthand notation for long times that is more concise than [[scientific notation]]. One Ma is equal to one million years. In [[evolutionist]] and [[secular]] accounts of the development of the earth, the time for [[geology|geological]] events such as the formation of a [[mountain]] to unfold is typically on the order of a few Ma. |
| − | Instead of "atheists claim that [[trilobite]]s went [[extinction|extinct]] 251 million years ago" <ref>http://www.trilobites.info/lasttrilos.htm</ref>, one would write "atheists claim that trilobites went extinct 251 Ma". The use of "Ma" allows one to avoid word repetition when writing. | + | Instead of "atheists claim that [[trilobite]]s went [[extinction|extinct]] 251 million years ago",<ref>http://www.trilobites.info/lasttrilos.htm</ref> one would write "atheists claim that trilobites went extinct 251 Ma". The use of "Ma" allows one to avoid word repetition when writing. |