Number Rules--When to Write Out and When to Use Numerals
Jul 17, 2021 22:53:38 GMT -6
Post by ScienceGirl on Jul 17, 2021 22:53:38 GMT -6
I just posted this in answer to the writing discussion thread, but figured it should go here as well.
Numbers between one and ten are spelled out. Larger numbers are given as numerals. So five dollars and $25 is most appropriate.
UNLESS the number starts a sentence, and then you always spell it out. Fifteen people attended. instead of 15 people attended.
If you have two numbers that come in a row in a sentence, spell one of them out, even if both are greater than ten. This rule applies to hundred and thousand, too. You'd say four hundred or ten thousand, but 12,000 generally. I usually write out twelve thousand, too, in fiction because seeing the numbers is a pause and we don't want readers to pause.
Spell out decades or centuries, but if you give the exact year, give the numeral. The roaring twenties vs. 1920.
Percents and decimals are generally written as numerals for clarity (and wordiness because two point seven five is just long and annoying to read)
Hyphenate your compound numbers. Twenty-one, forty-six, etc.
Use words in place of symbols when you can. So you'd say four degrees Celsius or 15 degrees Celsius. Or hashtag blessed instead of #blessed (although I think with the modern use of hashtags readers wouldn't mind #blessed as much these days).
For time:
Always use periods for a.m. and p.m.
Do not use dashes. Say eight a.m. to six p.m. or 11 am to 12 pm and not 11 am - 12 pm
Say o'clock or a.m./p.m. but not both. This also means do not say 8:00 a.m. in the morning (redundant) because 8:00 technically is the same as eight o'clock
Say noon or midnight instead of 12:00 a.m. or p.m.
For dates: when you give a range, use an "n" dash. You'd say, for example July 18 - 22. And especially do this if you give days of the week with it, but no dash for the days themselves. Ex: Monday through Thursday, July 18 - 22
Numbers between one and ten are spelled out. Larger numbers are given as numerals. So five dollars and $25 is most appropriate.
UNLESS the number starts a sentence, and then you always spell it out. Fifteen people attended. instead of 15 people attended.
If you have two numbers that come in a row in a sentence, spell one of them out, even if both are greater than ten. This rule applies to hundred and thousand, too. You'd say four hundred or ten thousand, but 12,000 generally. I usually write out twelve thousand, too, in fiction because seeing the numbers is a pause and we don't want readers to pause.
Spell out decades or centuries, but if you give the exact year, give the numeral. The roaring twenties vs. 1920.
Percents and decimals are generally written as numerals for clarity (and wordiness because two point seven five is just long and annoying to read)
Hyphenate your compound numbers. Twenty-one, forty-six, etc.
Use words in place of symbols when you can. So you'd say four degrees Celsius or 15 degrees Celsius. Or hashtag blessed instead of #blessed (although I think with the modern use of hashtags readers wouldn't mind #blessed as much these days).
For time:
Always use periods for a.m. and p.m.
Do not use dashes. Say eight a.m. to six p.m. or 11 am to 12 pm and not 11 am - 12 pm
Say o'clock or a.m./p.m. but not both. This also means do not say 8:00 a.m. in the morning (redundant) because 8:00 technically is the same as eight o'clock
Say noon or midnight instead of 12:00 a.m. or p.m.
For dates: when you give a range, use an "n" dash. You'd say, for example July 18 - 22. And especially do this if you give days of the week with it, but no dash for the days themselves. Ex: Monday through Thursday, July 18 - 22
You add them to your profile as you do them around the forum.
