Should You Spell Out Numbers In Writing?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The general rule is that you should spell out numbers one to one hundred , and use digits for anything higher than that. Also hyphenate numbers that that are made up of two words (“thirty-seven”).

What numbers should be spelled out in legal writing?

  • Spell out numbers below 10 and big round numbers. ...
  • If you chose to spell out multi-word whole numbers between 22 and 99, use hyphens. ...
  • Also use hyphens when those numbers are part of bigger numbers. ...
  • When writing large , use commas.

Do you write or spell out numbers in APA?

In general, APA style recommends using words to express numbers below 10 , and using numerals when expressing numbers 10 and above.

Do you spell out numbers in Business writing?

In business writing, a generally accepted rule is to spell out numbers from one to nine and use numerals for 10 and above . ... If there is a small and large number in the same sentence, some people use numerals for both numbers, but others retain the normal convention.

When should numbers be written as words?

Numbers up to nine should always be written in words, anything higher than nine can be written in numerals. Alternatively, some guides suggest that if you can write the number in two words or fewer then use words rather than numerals.

What is the correct way to write numbers?

A simple rule for using numbers in writing is that small numbers ranging from one to ten (or one to nine, depending on the style guide) should generally be spelled out . Larger numbers (i.e., above ten) are written as numerals.

Why do lawyers put numbers in parentheses?

Garner's Modern American Usage says it was originally done in legal writing to prevent fraudulent alterations . ... That's why you sometimes see a numeral in parentheses after a number that is written out—it is a relic of legal writing, but it's not something you need to include in your writing today.

How do you write numbers in legal writing?

The general rule is that all numbers ten and below should be spelled out and numbers 11 and above should be put in numerals. However, there are certain exceptions to this: If numbers recur through the text or are being used for calculations, then numerals should be used.

How do you write numbers over 100?

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).

What is APA Format example?

APA in-text citation style uses the author's last name and the year of publication , for example: (Field, 2005). For direct quotations, include the page number as well, for example: (Field, 2005, p. 14).

What does APA stand for?

APA stands for American Psychological Association . APA is a common social sciences formatting style for essays and papers. APA Style has a specific format for in-text and reference list entries. APA 7 is the current edition. APA 7 is the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

When writing numbers in-text you should use words to express numbers above 10?

The general rule governing APA style on the use of numbers is to use figures to express numbers 10 and above and words to express numbers below 10′′ (APA, 2001, p. 122). This general rule applies to cardinal numbers (whole counting numbers) and their ordinal counterparts (first through ninth) (128).

Do you write numbers under 10?

APA. The general rule in APA is that you should write out numbers that are under 10 and you should use digits for numbers that are 10 and above. There are several other guidelines for this rule also: ... Use words to write out numbers that are at the beginning of a sentence.

How do you write numbers in proposals?

Do not write numbers of a million or more as figures. For large round numbers, use words. three million, twelve billion. For large mixed numbers, use a figure-plus-word combination: 12.8 billion, 23.2 million.

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.