

America's two most influential style and usage guides have different approaches: The Associated Press Stylebook recommends spelling out the numbers zero through nine and using numerals thereafter-until one million is reached. Policies and philosophies vary from medium to medium. using figures (also called numerals) is largely a matter of writers' preference. We hope these rules were helpful and easy to understand.Except for a few basic rules, spelling out numbers vs. Use: The real price of cigarettes rose by 3 7/8 between 19. Use: Morson estimated that up to two-thirds of all colorectal carcinomas arise from adenomatous polyps.Īvoid: The real price of cigarettes rose by three seven-eights between 19. That is, spell out common fractions like one-fifth, two-thirds, etc,Īvoid: Morson estimated that up to 2/3 of all colorectal carcinomas arise from adenomatous polyps. Spell out fractions that are less than one, but use numerals when the wording becomes awkward. Use: Our survey indicates that 560 villages are arsenic-affected and more than a million people are drinking arsenic contaminated water Rule #5 Spell out indefinite numbers and amounts, including large approximations.Īvoid: Our survey indicates that 560 villages are arsenic-affected and more than 1,000,000 people are drinking arsenic contaminated water Use: The difference from baseline stimulus sensitivity scores for each condition during the three 20-min periods following baseline. For example, spell out any number that precedes another number expressed in numerals.Īvoid: The difference from baseline stimulus sensitivity scores for each condition during the 3 20-min periods following baseline. Use a combination of figures and words for numbers when such a combination will keep your writing clear. Use: Thousands of Human Genes are MicroRNA Targets. Spell out any number that begins a sentence.Īvoid: 1000’s of Human Genes are MicroRNA Targets. Use: If shadowing were a factor, it would have affected the seventh and eighth stages. Use: He served nine years in prison following his 1954 break.Īvoid: If shadowing were a factor, it would have affected the 7th and 8th stages. Spell out numbers from one to nine for both ordinal (first, third, tenth, etc.) and cardinal numbers (1, 3, 10, etc).Īvoid: He served 9 years in prison following his 1954 break. Note that these rules are appropriate within the context of formal writing. In this article, we present 10 rules or guidelines to spell out numbers. The conventions within engineering, for example, may differ from those within economics.

The rules regarding numbers in writing vary among academic disciplines.
