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Numbers Chapter 18
Rule 1:
Spell out single-digit whole
numbers. Use numerals for greater
numbers than nine.
Correct Examples
We ordered nine PDAs and four
tablets.
Lakshmi prepared 60 letters.
Rule 2:
Be consistent within a category. For examples, if you
choose numerals because one of the numbers is
greater than nine, use numerals for all the numbers in
a category. If you choose to spell out numbers
because one of the numbers is a single digit, spell out
all numbers in that category. If you have numbers in
different categories, use numerals for one category
and spell the other.
Correct Examples:
Please order 12 boxers of business cards, 2
reams of paper, and 11 boxes of envelopes
Incorrect Examples:
The company offers 15 different wellness
seminars, each of which last two hours.
Cardinal vs. Ordinal
Cardinal- one(1)two(2)
Ordinal- 1st, 2nd,3rd
Rule 3:
With numbers that have decimal points, use a
comma only when the number has five or more
digits before the decimal point. When writing out
such numbers, use a comma where it would
appear in the figure format. Use the word and
where the decimal point appears in the figure
format.
Examples: $15,768.13: Fifteen thousand, seven
hundred sixty-eight dollars and thirteen cents.
Note: When writing out the numbers that has no
decimal point use the comma where it appears in the
numerical form
Examples: 1,054 schools or 1054 schools; one
thousand, fifty-four schools or one thousand fifty-four
schools.
Abbreviations
Addresses
Age
Anniversaries
Rules for Writing NUmbers
Always use figures with abbreviations.
No. 2 pencils
18 m
Bldg 10
Abbreviations
Use words for street names from First through Tenth and figures or ordinals for street names through Tenth
Third Street 14th Street
Write house numbers in figures, except for number one.
One Main Street 13 Brook Avenue
Addresses
When figures are used for both the house number and the street name, separate them with a dash
122-33rd street
Use figures for all zip codes and no commas.
Zip code +4 code is a nine digit ZIP Code.
54121-3612
Addresses & Zip codes
Use words to express general age
Figures to express precise, legal and emphasis on age.
We are advertising a new line of computer products with 5- and 6-year old children in mind.
Age
Spell out ordinal numbers of one to two words.
Use figures that contain more than two words.
It is our company’s 150th anniversary.
Anniversaries and Birthdays
Rule 4:
Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one
through ninety-nine. Reword sentence if beginning
number consists of more than two words.
Examples: Forty-three persons were injured in the
train wreck.
Twenty-nine people won an award for helping their
communities
Use figures for the larger of two adjacent number
We ordered three 8-gallon sharps containers.
Consecutive Numbers
Rule 5:
Use cardinal numbers in month-day, month-year
or month-day-year order. Use commas to
separate the year from month and date.
Examples: The phone interview is scheduled for June 30,
2011.
Lonnie referred to an article on business weekly in
the December 2010 issue. ( not dates necessary
when the dates consists of a month and year only)
Use ordinal numbers when the day comes before the
month or stands alone and the emphasis is on figure.
The meeting is scheduled for the 30th of June.
The 1st of April puts some people on edge.
Rule 6:
Decades may be spelled out and in lowercase.
Example: During the eighties and nineties, the
U.S. economy grew.
Rule 7:
Incomplete numerals- use an apostrophe
before the incomplete numeral not between
the year and s
Correct: During the ‘80s and ‘90s the U.S.
economy grew.
Incorrect: During the ’80’s and ’90’s, the
U.S. economy grew.
Rule 8:
Express in complete numerals. Don’t use an
apostrophe between the year and the s.
Example: During the 1980s and 1990s, the
U.S. economy grew.
Rule 9:
Write Decimals in figures. Put a zero in front of the
decimal unless the decimal itself begins with a zero.
Examples: 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 10
Always spell out simple fractions and use
hyphens with them.
Examples: One-half of the pies have been
eaten. A two-thirds majority is required for that
bill to pass in Congress.
Rule 11:
A mixed fraction can be expressed in figures
unless it is the first word of a sentence.
Examples: We expect a 5 1/2 percentage wage
increase.
Five and one-half percent was the maximum
allowable interest.
Indefinite Numbers
Spell out indefinite numbers.
A few hundred voters turned out for
the local election.
Rule12:
The simplest way to express large numbers is best.
Round numbers are usually spelled out. Be careful to
be consistent with a sentence.
Correct: You can earn from one million to five million
dollars.
Incorrect: You can earn one million to $5,000,000.
Rule 12 Examples continued....
Correct: You can earn from five hundred to five
million dollars.
Correct: You can earn from $5 hundred to $5 million.
Incorrect: You can earn from $500 to $5 million.
Incorrect: You can earn from $500 to five million
dollars.
Rule 13
Use figures ( 1-10) to express measurements.
No commas to separate measurement of two
parts
Examples: 75 yards (yd)
6 quarts
5 feet 11 inches
Dimensions: 12-x15-foot rom or
a room 12 x 15 feet
Rule 14:
Use figures to express amounts of money
above $1. No decimal point or zeros after
dollar amount in sentence.
Example: The invoice includes $2000 plus
the sales tax of $100 for a total of $2100.
Amounts of money under a dollar are expressed in figures with the word cents, except in statistical copy or when used together with amounts over a dollar.
79 cents or
I have petty cash receipts for $15.70, $8.09 and $.95.
Rule 15
Use figures to express exact and approximate percentages. Write the word percent after the number.
We offer trade discounts of 10,20, and 30 percent to our long-term customers.
Percentages
Political Divisions, Publications
Use words to identify political subdivisions such as
congressional districts or precincts.
Tenth District representative
First Precinct election returns
Use figures to express pages, paragraphs, chapters,
lines, and verses in publications.
Do not capitalize the words page, line, verse, or
paragraph before the numbers.
page 25, line 3 paragraphs 34-43
Roman Numerals in Outlines and Reports
Use roman numerals to subdivide items on
outlines or reports.
Align roman numerals at the right in an outline or
list.
Place a period after the numeral.
I. WORKING WITH EXCEL GRAPHICS
II. WORKING WITH LISTS AND DATABASES
III. ANALYZING INFORMATION
Roman Numerals as Literary Divisions, as Lowercase
Use roman numerals to indicate the major parts of
complete literary works such as volumes or chapters.
Volume XIV Chapter V
Use lowercase roman numerals to indicate page
numbers in prefaces or in other materials that
precede text materials.
Please check page iii at the beginning of our catalog for
more information about our shipping policies.
Seniority Titles
Use roman numerals or arabic numerals for
seniority titles.
Do not set aside seniority titles with commas.
Daniel Russell II or Daniel Russell 2d
Mark Robbins III or Mark Robbins 3d
Inclusive Figures
Do not shorten the second number in an inclusive
set of figures unless page numbers or dates are
used frequently in a document.
pages 146-50 (frequent use)
or
pages 146-150 (general use)
Do not shorten inclusive numbers under 100.
pages 47-57
Inclusive Figures
Do not shorten the second number when the
second number begins with a digit that is different
from the first number.
pages 123-328
Do not use a shortened form for the second
number in any situation in which the first number
ends in two or more zeros.
pages 200-205
continued
Domestic Telephone Numbers
Use figures for most telephone numbers. If a
company uses combinations of letters and numbers
or all words, follow the company’s exact format.
Use diagonals, parentheses, periods, or hyphens to
separate the area code from the rest of the number.
515/555.3456 (515) 555-3416 515.555.3416
515-555-3456
Rule 16:
Use numerals with the time of day
when exact times are being
emphasized or when using A.M. or
P.M.
Example: Monica’s flight leaves at
6:22 A.M.
Please arrive by 12:30 sharp.
She had a 7:00 P.M. deadline.
Rule 17:
Spell out the time and date in text even with half
and quarter hours. With o’clock; the number is
always spelled out.
Example: She gets up at four thirty before the baby
wakes up.
The baby wakes up at five o’clock in the morning.
Rule 18:
Express terms noon and midnight in words rather than
12:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M.
Example:
I plan to take the workshop on Blackboard 9 that
begins at noon.
General Time Periods/ Business-Related Time Periods
Use words to express general time periods such as
years, months, weeks, and days except when the
time period requires more than two words.
During the past two years, we have increased our use
of temporary employees.
Our business is open 365 days a year.
Use numbers to indicate a time period associated with
payroll periods, discounts, and interest payments.
We have a 3-year lease on this copy machine.