Writing Numbers

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Writing Numbers

Rule 1. The numbers one through ten should be spelled out; use figures for numbers greater than

ten.

 I want five copies.

 I want 15 copies.

Rule 2. With a group of related numbers where one number is above ten in a sentence, write the

numbers all in figures. Use words if all related numbers are ten or below.

 I asked for 5 pencils, not 50. 

 My ten cats fought with their one cat. Their cat won. 

 I asked for five pencils, not 50. 

Rule 3. If the numbers are unrelated, then you may use both figures and words.

 I asked for 30 pencils for my five employees.

 My ten toes exceed in number my one nose.

Rule 4. Always spell out simple fractions and use hyphens with them.

 One-half of the pies have been eaten.

Rule 5. A mixed fraction can be expressed in figures unless it is the first word of a sentence.

 We expect a 5 1/2 percent wage increase.

 Five and one-half percent was the maximum allowable interest.

Rule 6. The simplest way to express large numbers is best but be careful to be consistent within a

sentence.

 You can earn anywhere from $500 to $5,000,000.

 You can earn from five hundred to five million dollars.

Rule 7. Write decimals in figures. Put a zero in front of a decimal unless the decimal begins with a

zero.

 The plant grew 0.79 of a foot in one year.

 The plant grew only .07 of a foot this year because of the drought.

Rule 8. When writing out large numbers of five or more digits before the decimal point, use a

comma where the comma would appear in the figure format.

 $15,768.13 (Fifteen thousand, seven hundred sixty-eight dollars and thirteen cents)

 $1054.21 (One thousand fifty-four dollars and twenty-one cents)

**Note: The comma is now commonly omitted in four-digit whole numbers.

Rule 9. The following examples apply when using dates:

 The meeting is scheduled for June 30.

 The meeting is scheduled for the 30th of June.

Rule 10. Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.

 Forty-three people were injured in the train wreck. Twenty-three of them were

hospitalized.

Rule 11. Write out a number if it begins a sentence.

 Twenty-nine people won an award for helping their communities.

 That 29 people won an award for helping their communities was fantastic!

Source: GrammarBook.com