Tags
No tags :(
Style Guide – when to use words or numbers by Software for Writers
As a general rule, spell out in words numbers up to ninety-nine when used in text. When you have to refer to numbers repeatedly, such as in statistical reports, it is simpler and preferable to use figures.
The following advice will help you be consistent when using numbers.
Spell out numbers in letters:
Numbers up to ninety-nine when used in text
There were twenty-five cars in the queue.
Round or indefinite numbers
She was in her twenties.
Between three and four hundred people attended.
Numbers at the beginning or end of a sentence
Fifteen people attended the meeting.
He died at the age of forty.
Fractions in text
Only one-third arrived on time.
Ordinal numbers in text (1st. 2nd. 3rd…)
The first agenda item is the monthly budget.
The time of day unless A.M. or P.M. is used
We met at four o’clock.
The meeting was at 4 p.m.
When to use figures not words for numbers:
Before any abbreviation of units of time or measurement
20 mph 6 pm 3gm
With decimals or exact sums of money
The firm’s costs were 2.45 times the average for the industry.
The ticket cost $15.
In technical and statistical writing
In the test 3.5 grams of powder passed through the 3 filters.
The runners averaged 2.34 minutes over the course.
In sentences containing large and small numbers
There were 7 women, 42 men and 122 children present.
In addresses, and page references
25 Barnett Street
Pages 224-229 refer
Become a better writer today. StyleWriter 4 – the world’s most comprehensive copy-editing software transforms your writing by showing you how to edit like a professional editor. StyleWriter shows you editing tips, tricks and techniques to redraft your document into a model of clear, concise and readable writing.
Download our 14-day free StyleWriter trial. Use the three editions, Starter, Standard and Professional. Once you’ve chosen the edition you want, buy a license on this website.
StyleWriter – don’t just proofread your document – edit it like a professional.
