The marks and numbers on a measuring instrument are generally called graduations.

Here's a breakdown:

* Graduations: These are the markings that indicate the units of measurement on the instrument. They can be lines, numbers, or a combination of both.

* Scale: The entire set of graduations on a measuring instrument is called its scale.

For example, a ruler has graduations in inches or centimeters, and a thermometer has graduations in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.