diff --git a/example/alternative_namespaces/conversion_factor.cpp b/example/alternative_namespaces/conversion_factor.cpp
index 28812a6d..900d0552 100644
--- a/example/alternative_namespaces/conversion_factor.cpp
+++ b/example/alternative_namespaces/conversion_factor.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ int main()
   std::cout << "therefore ratio lengthA / lengthB == " << lengthA / lengthB << "\n\n";
 
   std::cout << "conversion factor from lengthA::unit of "
-            << units_str(lengthA) << " to lengthB::unit of " << units_str(lengthB) << " :\n\n"
+            << units_str(lengthA).standard() << " to lengthB::unit of " << units_str(lengthB).standard() << " :\n\n"
             << "lengthB.count( " << lengthB.count() << " ) == lengthA.count( " << lengthA.count()
             << " ) * conversion_factor( " << conversion_factor(lengthB, lengthA) << " )\n";
 }
diff --git a/src/include/units/bits/to_string.h b/src/include/units/bits/to_string.h
index 3e91f9da..89fae646 100644
--- a/src/include/units/bits/to_string.h
+++ b/src/include/units/bits/to_string.h
@@ -168,8 +168,8 @@ std::basic_string<CharT> to_string(const Q& q)
   std::basic_ostringstream<CharT, Traits> s;
   s << q.count();
   constexpr auto symbol = unit_text<typename Q::dimension, typename Q::unit>();
-  if constexpr (symbol.size()) {
-    s << " " << symbol;
+  if constexpr (symbol.standard().size()) {
+    s << " " << symbol.standard();
   }
   return s.str();
 }
diff --git a/src/include/units/format.h b/src/include/units/format.h
index 67997238..f88ce216 100644
--- a/src/include/units/format.h
+++ b/src/include/units/format.h
@@ -456,9 +456,9 @@ public:
       // default format should print value followed by the unit separated with 1 space
       to_quantity_buffer = units::detail::format_units_quantity_value<CharT>(to_quantity_buffer, q.count(), rep_specs);
       constexpr auto symbol = units::detail::unit_text<Dimension, Unit>();
-      if(symbol.size()) {
+      if(symbol.standard().size()) {
         *to_quantity_buffer++ = CharT(' ');
-        format_to(to_quantity_buffer, "{}", symbol.c_str());
+        format_to(to_quantity_buffer, "{}", symbol.standard().c_str());
       }
     }
     else {
diff --git a/src/include/units/symbol_text.h b/src/include/units/symbol_text.h
index c952cfba..c10fe2cc 100644
--- a/src/include/units/symbol_text.h
+++ b/src/include/units/symbol_text.h
@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@ struct basic_symbol_text {
   [[nodiscard]] constexpr auto& ascii() { return ascii_; }
   [[nodiscard]] constexpr const auto& ascii() const { return ascii_; }
 
-  [[nodiscard]] constexpr std::size_t size() const noexcept { return standard_.size(); }
-  [[nodiscard]] constexpr const StandardCharT* c_str() const noexcept { return standard_.c_str(); }
-
   template<std::size_t N2, std::size_t M2>
   [[nodiscard]] constexpr friend basic_symbol_text<StandardCharT, ASCIICharT, N + N2, M + M2> operator+(
       const basic_symbol_text& lhs, const basic_symbol_text<StandardCharT, ASCIICharT, N2, M2>& rhs) noexcept
@@ -67,13 +64,6 @@ struct basic_symbol_text {
   {
     return false;
   }
-
-  template<class Traits>
-  friend std::basic_ostream<StandardCharT, Traits>& operator<<(std::basic_ostream<StandardCharT, Traits>& os,
-                                                               const basic_symbol_text& symbol)
-  {
-    return os << symbol.standard_.c_str();
-  }
 };
 
 template<typename StandardCharT>