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NUMBERS
Questions or comments about numbers, place them in here. Here are some great punctuation sites re numbers:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/593/01/
Also, this one:
Rule 1. Spell out single-digit whole numbers. Use numerals for numbers greater than nine.
Correct Examples:
* I want five copies.
* I want 10 copies.
Rule 2. Be consistent within a category. For example, if you choose numerals because one of the numbers is greater than nine, use numerals for all numbers in that 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 out the other.
Correct Examples:
* My 10 cats fought with their 2 cats.
* My ten cats fought with their two cats.
* Given the budget constraints, if all 30 history students attend the four plays, then the 7 math students will be able to attend only two plays. (Students are represented with figures; plays are represented with words.
Incorrect Example:
* I asked for five pencils, not 50.
Rule 3. 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 4. A mixed fraction can be expressed in figures unless it is the first word of a sentence.
Examples:
* We expect a 5 1/2 percent wage increase.
* Five and one-half percent was the maximum allowable interest.
Rule 5. The simplest way to express large numbers is best. Round numbers are usually spelled out. Be careful to be consistent within a sentence.
* Correct: You can earn from one million to five million dollars.
* Incorrect: You can earn from one million to $5,000,000.
* 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 6. Write decimals in figures. Put a zero in front of a 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 7. With numbers that have decimal points, use a comma only when the number has five or more digits before the decimal point. Place the comma in front of the third digit to the left of the decimal point. When writing out such numbers, use the 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
* $1054.21: One thousand fifty-four dollars and twenty-one cents
Note: If the number has no decimal point, authorities disagree on whether to begin using the comma with four-digit numbers or to begin using the comma with five-digit numbers. When writing out these numbers, I recommend using the comma where it appears in the numerical form.
* 1,054 schools OR 1054 schools: one thousand, fifty-four schools OR one thousand fifty-four schools
* 12,154 schools: twelve thousand, one hundred fifty-four schools
Rule 8. The following examples apply when using dates:
Examples:
* The meeting is scheduled for June 30.
* The meeting is scheduled for the 30th of June.
* We have had tricks played on us on April 1.
* The 1st of April puts some people on edge.
Rule 9. When expressing decades, you may spell them out and lowercase them.
Example:
* During the eighties and nineties, the U.S. economy grew.
***MARLA'S NOTE: Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition, says:
9.37 Decades. Decades are either spelled out (as long as the century is clear) and lowercased or expressed in numerals. No apostrophe appears between the year and the s.
the nineties
the 1980s and 1990s (or, less formally, the 1980s and ’90s)
Rule 10. If you wish to express decades using incomplete numerals, put an apostrophe before the incomplete numeral but not between the year and the 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 11. You may also express decades in complete numerals. Again, don't use an apostrophe between the year and the s.
Example:
* During the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. economy grew.
Rule 12. Normally, spell out the time of day in text even with half and quarter hours. With o'clock, the number is always spelled out.
Examples:
* She gets up at four thirty before the baby wakes up.
* The baby wakes up at five o'clock in the morning.
Rule 13. Use numerals with the time of day when exact times are being emphasized or when using A.M. or P.M.
Examples:
* Monib's flight leaves at 6:22 A.M.
* Please arrive by 12:30 sharp.
* She had a 7:00 P.M. deadline.
Rule 14. Use noon and midnight rather than 12:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M.
** MARLA'S NOTE: Chicago Manual of Style Rule 9.42 says:
The abbreviations a.m. (ante meridiem) and p.m. (post meridiem) often appear in small capitals (AM and PM), in which case periods are unnecessary.
Rule 15. Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.
Examples:
* Forty-three people were injured in the train wreck.
* Twenty-three of them were hospitalized.
Rule 16. Write out a number if it begins a sentence.
Examples:
* Twenty-nine people won an award for helping their communities.
* That 29 people won an award for helping their communities was fantastic! OR
* That twenty-nine people won an award for helping their communities was fantastic!
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/593/01/
Also, this one:
Rule 1. Spell out single-digit whole numbers. Use numerals for numbers greater than nine.
Correct Examples:
* I want five copies.
* I want 10 copies.
Rule 2. Be consistent within a category. For example, if you choose numerals because one of the numbers is greater than nine, use numerals for all numbers in that 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 out the other.
Correct Examples:
* My 10 cats fought with their 2 cats.
* My ten cats fought with their two cats.
* Given the budget constraints, if all 30 history students attend the four plays, then the 7 math students will be able to attend only two plays. (Students are represented with figures; plays are represented with words.
Incorrect Example:
* I asked for five pencils, not 50.
Rule 3. 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 4. A mixed fraction can be expressed in figures unless it is the first word of a sentence.
Examples:
* We expect a 5 1/2 percent wage increase.
* Five and one-half percent was the maximum allowable interest.
Rule 5. The simplest way to express large numbers is best. Round numbers are usually spelled out. Be careful to be consistent within a sentence.
* Correct: You can earn from one million to five million dollars.
* Incorrect: You can earn from one million to $5,000,000.
* 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 6. Write decimals in figures. Put a zero in front of a 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 7. With numbers that have decimal points, use a comma only when the number has five or more digits before the decimal point. Place the comma in front of the third digit to the left of the decimal point. When writing out such numbers, use the 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
* $1054.21: One thousand fifty-four dollars and twenty-one cents
Note: If the number has no decimal point, authorities disagree on whether to begin using the comma with four-digit numbers or to begin using the comma with five-digit numbers. When writing out these numbers, I recommend using the comma where it appears in the numerical form.
* 1,054 schools OR 1054 schools: one thousand, fifty-four schools OR one thousand fifty-four schools
* 12,154 schools: twelve thousand, one hundred fifty-four schools
Rule 8. The following examples apply when using dates:
Examples:
* The meeting is scheduled for June 30.
* The meeting is scheduled for the 30th of June.
* We have had tricks played on us on April 1.
* The 1st of April puts some people on edge.
Rule 9. When expressing decades, you may spell them out and lowercase them.
Example:
* During the eighties and nineties, the U.S. economy grew.
***MARLA'S NOTE: Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition, says:
9.37 Decades. Decades are either spelled out (as long as the century is clear) and lowercased or expressed in numerals. No apostrophe appears between the year and the s.
the nineties
the 1980s and 1990s (or, less formally, the 1980s and ’90s)
Rule 10. If you wish to express decades using incomplete numerals, put an apostrophe before the incomplete numeral but not between the year and the 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 11. You may also express decades in complete numerals. Again, don't use an apostrophe between the year and the s.
Example:
* During the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. economy grew.
Rule 12. Normally, spell out the time of day in text even with half and quarter hours. With o'clock, the number is always spelled out.
Examples:
* She gets up at four thirty before the baby wakes up.
* The baby wakes up at five o'clock in the morning.
Rule 13. Use numerals with the time of day when exact times are being emphasized or when using A.M. or P.M.
Examples:
* Monib's flight leaves at 6:22 A.M.
* Please arrive by 12:30 sharp.
* She had a 7:00 P.M. deadline.
Rule 14. Use noon and midnight rather than 12:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M.
** MARLA'S NOTE: Chicago Manual of Style Rule 9.42 says:
The abbreviations a.m. (ante meridiem) and p.m. (post meridiem) often appear in small capitals (AM and PM), in which case periods are unnecessary.
Rule 15. Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.
Examples:
* Forty-three people were injured in the train wreck.
* Twenty-three of them were hospitalized.
Rule 16. Write out a number if it begins a sentence.
Examples:
* Twenty-nine people won an award for helping their communities.
* That 29 people won an award for helping their communities was fantastic! OR
* That twenty-nine people won an award for helping their communities was fantastic!
Views: 135
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brenda Rogers on
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I hate Rule 16. And I ignore rules I hate.
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Permalink Reply by Marla Sharp on
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Good, sound logic, Brenda. ;) You crack me up. I do the same thing. I ignore rules about time and always use figures. I can't stand the inconsistency of five o'clock and 5:15.
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Exactly! 5:00=five o'clock, so just be consistent using figures. When they say "We met at five," I also use 5:00. The argument of "I want to put what they SAY" doesn't cut any ice with me because 5:00 means both, and whether the word "o'clock" was used or not makes no difference in the world. Smart verbatim FTW!
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I agree completely. But what's FTW mean?
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"for the win"
I'm too influenced by my daughter. lol -
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Permalink Reply by LeAnne Law on
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Does anybody else disagree with Rule 5? I'd never use the first and see no problem with the second.
* Correct: You can earn from $5 hundred to $5 million.
* Incorrect: You can earn from $500 to $5 million. -
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Ditto. $5 hundred is ridiculous. Who would look at that and not read, five dollars hundred . . . Oh! and then have to read it again?
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Yeah, I disagree with that example in 5 for sure. If someone said "five hundred dollars to five million dollars," I'd do it just like her incorrect example: "$500 to $5 million." I guess she's trying to be consistent within a sentence of using the words "hundred" and "million" with a numeral. Me no likey.
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Oh, here's another.
Rule 12. Normally, spell out the time of day in text even with half and quarter hours.
Who IS this person??????? I've never heard of such a thing!
Examples:
* She gets up at four thirty before the baby wakes up.
And if you were to write out 4:30, wouldn't you use a hyphen? -
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I know. It's hard to find one source that agrees with everything I like or do. I thought about just taking out the things I don't agree with, but I'm sure people would rather use their own judgment on which rules to follow.
BTW, you wouldn't hyphenate four thirty because you only hyphenate numbers twenty-one through ninety-nine, though the Chicago Manual of Style recommends hyphenating "five-six" when referring to height. -
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The numbers twenty-one through ninety-nine are whole numbers. Reflecting time, it seems that you need to tie the two numbers together. I mean, there is no number such as four-thirty. Two totally different things. Just seems like you need something there to show a relationship.
But it's really moot. Everyone I know, and everything I've seen, reflects that sort of time in numerals anyway. Just interesting to consider how to do it if you were going to follow that concept. -
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