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    When To Spell Out Numbers

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    pradumnathebest
    The document provides guidelines for when to spell out numbers versus using figures. It states that numbers up to twelve should generally be written out, except when telling time or in dates. Numbers above twelve can be written either way. Technical writing uses figures for measurements of time, distance, and values. Sentences should not begin with numerals.

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    When To Spell Out Numbers

    Uploaded by

    pradumnathebest
    47 views1 page
    The document provides guidelines for when to spell out numbers versus using figures. It states that numbers up to twelve should generally be written out, except when telling time or in dates. Numbers above twelve can be written either way. Technical writing uses figures for measurements of time, distance, and values. Sentences should not begin with numerals.

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    When to Spell Out Numbers

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    The document provides guidelines for when to spell out numbers versus using figures. It states that numbers up to twelve should generally be written out, except when telling time or in dates. Numbers above twelve can be written either way. Technical writing uses figures for measurements of time, distance, and values. Sentences should not begin with numerals.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    47 views1 page

    When To Spell Out Numbers

    Uploaded by

    pradumnathebest
    The document provides guidelines for when to spell out numbers versus using figures. It states that numbers up to twelve should generally be written out, except when telling time or in dates. Numbers above twelve can be written either way. Technical writing uses figures for measurements of time, distance, and values. Sentences should not begin with numerals.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    When to spell out numbers

    Many writers have difficulty figuring out when to write numbers in words or figures. There are some general rules
    but these are not applicable in all contexts. The following guidelines should, nevertheless, help.

    The numbers of Kings and Queens should be written in Roman characters.

    Examples: Elizabeth II, Louis XIV

    Ordinal numbers up to twelfth should be written in words except in dates.

    He finished second. (NOT He finished 2nd.)


    Who came first? (NOT Who came 1st?)

    He was born on 3rd May. OR He was born on May 3rd. (BUT Not normally He was born on third May.)

    Cardinal numbers up to 12 should be written in words, except when telling the time.

    We need three chairs and one table.


    He has three sisters.
    The train leaves at 5 pm.

    Cardinal and ordinal numbers above twelve and twelfth should be written in either figures or words as seems in
    each case more convenient.

    There were 50 students in the class.

    Technical writing, however, is different. In technical writing any numbers used with measurements of time or
    distance should be expressed in figures. Examples are: 5 years, 2 months, 6 inches etc.

    There is some difficulty in defining the rules, but generally any number that represents a key value is written in
    figures. For example in the sentence, ‘This chipset is based on the 32nm technology’ the numeral is in order
    because the number 32 has a key value in the context. When the number is not very ‘important’ it can be written
    in words.

    Even in technical writing, sentences shouldn’t begin with numerals. In such cases write the number out in words
    or rephrase the sentence so that the number doesn’t begin the sentence.

    According to the Chicago Manual of Style, whole numbers from one through one hundred, round numbers and
    any number beginning a sentence should be spelled out. For other numbers, numerals are used.

    Stay on top of your writing! Download our grammar guide from www.englishgrammar.org to stay up-to-date.

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