# Formatting numbers for sending to the WolframAlpha[] function

I have a function that gives me a number of meters; how do I attach "meters" to it and send it to WolframAlpha?

The function generating the result isn't a unit-aware calculation or anything:

distance := someFunction[AstronomicalData["Mercury", "Radius"]]


Now I want to ask WolframAlpha[] to give me context for that number of meters. (Show me the number converted it to various units, show me comparisons, etc; all the stuff W|A is great for.)

I figured I'd say something like

WolframAlpha[ToString[distance]<>"meters"]


But no way that I format that number into a string gives me a result that WolframAlpha[] understands, and I can't find anything in the manual explaining a better way to format it.

I've tried the Quantity[] function, and all kinds of variations on

x := NumberForm[N[distance], 10]
WolframAlpha[ToString[x] <> "meters"]


But it just interprets it as "15x6.068x10 meters"

I've tried Googling every variation on "format a number to send to the wolframalpha function" and found nothing.

Is there an easy way to do this that I'm missing?

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Try ToString[_, InputForm]. –  Chip Hurst Nov 18 '13 at 15:32
Thank you! That worked perfectly. –  user10632 Nov 18 '13 at 15:42