diff --git a/engineering_notation/engineering_notation.py b/engineering_notation/engineering_notation.py
index f48f2f0..71ba4c0 100644
--- a/engineering_notation/engineering_notation.py
+++ b/engineering_notation/engineering_notation.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class EngUnit:
     Represents an engineering number, complete with units
     """
     def __init__(self, value,
-                 precision=2, significant=0):
+                 precision=2, significant=0, unit: str = None):
         """
         Initialize engineering with units
         :param value: the desired value in the form of a string, int, or float
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def __init__(self, value,
         if given, significant takes precendence over precision
         """
         suffix_keys = [key for key in _suffix_lookup.keys() if key != '']
-        self.unit = None
+        self.unit = unit
 
         if isinstance(value, str):
             # parse the string into unit and engineering number
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def __init__(self, value,
                 else:
                     break
 
-            if len(value) >= v_index:
+            if self.unit is None and len(value) >= v_index:
                 self.unit = value[v_index:]
 
             self.eng_num = EngNumber(new_value, precision, significant)
diff --git a/engineering_notation/version.py b/engineering_notation/version.py
index a71c5c7..32a90a3 100644
--- a/engineering_notation/version.py
+++ b/engineering_notation/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = '0.7.0'
+__version__ = '0.8.0'
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 8b5010f..856bb3f 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ Additionally, since there are 'reserved' letters for sizing the number, you must
 2mm        # <<< this value equivalent to "0.002m"
 >>> EngUnit('2meter')
 2meter     # <<< this value is equivalent to "0.002eter", the "m" was used to scale the unit!
+>>> EngUnit('2', unit='meter')   # <<< this will work better
 ```
 
 # Contributions
diff --git a/tests/test_engnum.py b/tests/test_engnum.py
index c0891c2..a37aa35 100644
--- a/tests/test_engnum.py
+++ b/tests/test_engnum.py
@@ -191,7 +191,6 @@ def test_enum_eq():
     assert not (EngNumber('220k') == object)
 
 
-
 def test_enum_gt():
     # positive_numbers
     assert EngNumber('220k') > 219000
@@ -307,9 +306,15 @@ def test_to_str():
     assert str(EngUnit('220ohm') == '220ohm')
 
     # negative_numbers
-    assert str(EngUnit('-220')    == '-220')
+    assert str(EngUnit('-220') == '-220')
     assert str(EngUnit('-220ohm') == '-220ohm')
 
+    assert EngUnit('220ohm').unit == 'ohm'
+    assert EngUnit('220', unit='ohm').unit == 'ohm'
+
+    assert EngUnit('2m', unit='meter').unit == 'meter'
+    assert EngUnit('2m', unit='meter').eng_num == EngNumber('2m')
+
 
 def test_to_str_large():
     # positive_numbers
@@ -320,8 +325,8 @@ def test_to_str_large():
     assert str(EngUnit(220001.25)) == '220k'
 
     # negative_numbers
-    assert str(EngUnit('-220kHz'))  == '-220kHz'
-    assert str(EngUnit('-220000'))  == '-220k'
+    assert str(EngUnit('-220kHz')) == '-220kHz'
+    assert str(EngUnit('-220000')) == '-220k'
     assert str(EngUnit(-220000)) == '-220k'
     assert str(EngUnit(-220000.00)) == '-220k'
     assert str(EngUnit(-220001.25)) == '-220k'
@@ -335,8 +340,8 @@ def test_to_str_small():
     assert str(EngUnit(0.220000125)) == '220m'
 
     # negative_numbers
-    assert str(EngUnit('-220mohm'))   == '-220mohm'
-    assert str(EngUnit('-0.220'))     == '-220m'
+    assert str(EngUnit('-220mohm')) == '-220mohm'
+    assert str(EngUnit('-0.220')) == '-220m'
     assert str(EngUnit(-0.220)) == '-220m'
     assert str(EngUnit(-0.220000125)) == '-220m'