Writing Numbers

(Source: GrammarBook.com)

Except for a few basic rules, spelling out numbers vs. using figures (also called numerals) is largely a matter of
writers' preference. Again, consistency is the key.

Policies and philosophies vary from medium to medium. America's two most influential style and
usage guides have different approaches: The Associated Press Stylebook recommends spelling out
the numbers zero through nine and using numerals thereafter—until one million is reached. Here are
four examples of how to write numbers above 999,999 in AP style: 1 million; 20 million; 20,040,086;
2.7 trillion.

The Chicago Manual of Style recommends spelling out the numbers zero through one hundred and
using figures thereafter—except for whole numbers used in combination with hundred, thousand,
hundred thousand, million, billion, and beyond (e.g., two hundred; twenty-eight thousand; three
hundred thousand; one million). In Chicago style, as opposed to AP style, we would write four
hundred, eight thousand, and twenty million with no numerals—but like AP, Chicago style would
require numerals for 401; 8,012; and 20,040,086.

This is a complex topic, with many exceptions, and there is no consistency we can rely on among
blogs, books, newspapers, and magazines. This chapter will confine itself to rules that all media seem
to agree on.

Rule 1. Spell out all numbers beginning a sentence.

Examples:
Twenty-three hundred sixty-one victims were hospitalized.
Nineteen fifty-six was quite a year.

Note: The Associated Press Stylebook makes an exception for years.

Example: 1956 was quite a year.

Rule 2a. Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.

Examples:
Forty-three people were injured in the train wreck.
Twenty-seven of them were hospitalized.

Rule 2b. Hyphenate all written-out fractions.

Examples:
We recovered about two-thirds of the stolen cash.
One-half is slightly less than five-eighths.

However, do not hyphenate terms like a third or a half.

Rule 3a. With figures of four or more digits, use commas. Count three spaces to the left to place the
first comma. Continue placing commas after every three digits. Important: do not include decimal
points when doing the counting.

Examples:
1,054 people
$2,417,592.21

Note: Some choose not to use commas with four-digit numbers, but this practice is not
recommended.

Rule 3b. It is not necessary to use a decimal point or a dollar sign when writing out sums of less than
a dollar.

Not Advised: He had only $0.60.

Better:
He had only sixty cents.
OR
He had only 60 cents.

Rule 3c. Do not add the word "dollars" to figures preceded by a dollar sign.

Incorrect: I have $1,250 dollars in my checking account.

Correct: I have $1,250 in my checking account.

Rule 4a. For clarity, use noon and midnight rather than 12:00 PM and 12:00 AM.

NOTE

AM and PM are also written A.M. and P.M., a.m. and p.m., and am and pm. Some put a space
between the time and AM or PM.

Examples:
8 AM
3:09 P.M.
11:20 p.m.

Others write times using no space before AM or PM.

Example:
8AM
3:09P.M.
11:20p.m.

For the top of the hour, some write 9:00 PM, whereas others drop the :00 and write 9 PM (or 9 p.m.,
9pm, etc.).

Rule 4b. Using numerals for the time of day has become widely accepted.
 Examples:
The flight leaves at 6:22 a.m.
Please arrive by 12:30 sharp.

However, some writers prefer to spell out the time, particularly when using o'clock.

Examples:
She takes the four thirty-five train.
The baby wakes up at five o'clock in the morning.

Rule 5. Mixed fractions are often expressed in figures unless they begin a sentence.

Examples:
We expect a 5 1/2 percent wage increase.
Five and one-half percent was the expected wage increase.

Rule 6. The simplest way to express large numbers is usually best.

Example: twenty-three hundred (simpler than two thousand three hundred)

Large round numbers are often spelled out, but be consistent within a sentence.

Consistent: You can earn from one million to five million dollars.
Inconsistent: You can earn from one million dollars to 5 million dollars.
Inconsistent: You can earn from $1 million to five million dollars.

Rule 7. Write decimals using figures. As a courtesy to readers, many writers put a zero in front of the
decimal point.

Examples:
The plant grew 0.79 inches last year.
The plant grew only 0.07 inches this year.

Rule 8a. When writing out a number of three or more digits, the word and is not necessary. However,
use the word and to express any decimal points that may accompany these numbers.

Examples:
one thousand one hundred fifty-four dollars
one thousand one hundred fifty-four dollars and sixty-one cents

Simpler: eleven hundred fifty-four dollars and sixty-one cents

Rule 8b. When writing out numbers above 999, do not use commas.

Incorrect: one thousand, one hundred fifty-four dollars, and sixty-one cents
Correct: one thousand one hundred fifty-four dollars and sixty-one cents

Rule 9. The following examples are typical when using figures to express dates.
 Examples:
the 30th of June, 1934
June 30, 1934 (no -th necessary)

Rule 10. When spelling out decades, do not capitalize them.

Example: During the eighties and nineties, the U.S. economy grew.

Rule 11. When expressing decades using figures, it is simpler to put an apostrophe before the
incomplete numeral and no apostrophe between the number and the s.

Example: During the '80s and '90s, the U.S. economy grew.

Some writers place an apostrophe after the number:

Example: During the 80's and 90's, the U.S. economy grew.

Awkward: During the '80's and '90's, the U.S. economy grew.

Rule 12. You may also express decades in complete numerals. Again, it is cleaner to avoid an
apostrophe between the year and the s.

Example: During the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. economy grew.

10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals

By Michael

How do you express numbers in your writing? When do you use figures (digits) and when do you write out the number in words
(letters)? That is, when do you write 9 and when do you write nine?

1. Number versus numeral. First things first, what is the difference between a number and a numeral? A number is an abstract
concept while a numeral is a symbol used to express that number. “Three,” “3” and “III” are all symbols used to express the same
number (or the concept of “threeness”). One could say that the difference between a number and its numerals is like the difference
between a person and her name.

2. Spell small numbers out. The small numbers, such as whole numbers smaller than ten, should be spelled out. That’s one rule you
can count on. If you don’t spell numbers out it will look like you’re sending an instant message, and you want to be more formal than
that in your writing.

3. No other standard rule: Experts don’t always agree on other rules. Some experts say that any one-word number should be written
out. Two-word numbers should be expressed in figures. That is, they say you should write out twelve or twenty. But not 24.

4. Using the comma. In English, the comma is used as a thousands separator (and the period as a decimal separator), to make large
numbers easier to read. So write the size of Alaska as 571,951 square miles instead of 571951 square miles. In Continental Europe the
opposite is true, periods are used to separate large numbers and the comma is used for decimals. Finally, the International Systems of
Units (SI) recommends that a space should be used to separate groups of three digits, and both the comma and the period should be
used only to denote decimals, like $13 200,50 (the comma part is a mess… I know).
5. Don’t start a sentence with a numeral. Make it “Fourscore and seven years ago,” not “4 score and 7 years ago.” That means you
might have to rewrite some sentences: “Fans bought 400,000 copies the first day” instead of “400,000 copies were sold the first day.”

6. Centuries and decades should be spelled out. Use the Eighties or nineteenth century.

7. Percentages and recipes. With everyday writing and recipes you can use digits, like “4% of the children” or “Add 2 cups of brown
rice.” In formal writing, however, you should spell the percentage out like “12 percent of the players” (or “twelve percent of the players,”
depending on your preference as explained in point three).

8. If the number is rounded or estimated, spell it out. Rounded numbers over a million are written as a numeral plus a word. Use
“About 400 million people speak Spanish natively,” instead of “About 400,000,000 people speak Spanish natively.” If you’re using the
exact number, you’d write it out, of course.

9. Two numbers next to each other. It can be confusing if you write “7 13-year-olds”, so write one of them as a numeral, like “seven
13-year-olds”. Pick the number that has the fewest letters.

10. Ordinal numbers and consistency. Don’t say “He was my 1st true love,” but rather “He was my first true love.” Be consistent
within the same sentence. If my teacher has 23 beginning students, she also has 18 advanced students, not eighteen advanced
students.

How to Write Numbers

Style and context matter when you're using numbers in a sentence.

By

Mignon Fogarty,

Grammar Girl

March 28, 2008

Episode #100
Page 2 of 3

Numbers Next to Each Other

Here's another one most people seem to agree on: When you are writing two numbers right next to each other,
you should use words for one of them and a numeral for the other because that makes it a lot easier to read. For
example, if you write,

"We tested 52 twelve-inch snails,"

you should write the number 52, but spell out twelve (or vice versa).
Beginning of a Sentence

When you put a number at the beginning of a sentence, most sources recommend writing out the words. If the
number would be ridiculously long if you wrote out the words, you should rephrase the sentence so the number
doesn't come at the beginning. For example, this sentence would be hard to read if you wrote out the number:

Twelve thousand eight hundred forty-two people attended the parade.

It's better to rephrase the sentence to read something like this:

The parade was attended by 12,842 people.

The second sentence uses passive voice, which I generally discourage, but passive voice is better than writing
out a humongous number and taking the risk that your readers' brains will be numb by the time they get to the
verb.

Some style guides make an exception to allow you to use the numeral when you're putting a year at the
beginning of a sentence, but others recommend that you use words even in the case of years.