The basic style question with regard to numbers is whether they should be spelled out (one, two, three …) or shown as numerals (1, 2, 3 …). Style guides frequently lay down specific rules in this respect. The following conventions should be followed in the absence of instructions to the contrary.Spell out numbers when- they are made up of no more than two words;
- a number is the first word in a sentence;
- you are expressing a simple quantity or fraction in a nonscientific work;
- you are writing about a particular century or giving the time without using A.M. or P.M.
Use numerals when- it would take more than two words to spell out the number in question;
- a series of numbers are clustered together in a sentence;
- the number in question represents a date; a time of day, a percentage or a decimal, a numerical result such as a score in a game, an exact amount of money, or a division or page in a written work;
- you are expressing a quantity (including fractions) in a mathematical, scientific, technical, or statistical work.
Ordinal numbers follow the same rules as cardinal numbers (first, twelfth, 101st).Let us briefly review these lists.Spelled-Out NumbersTwo-word numbers are all the numbers from one through one hundred and whole numbers such as four hundred, two thousand, four billion, and so on. (It is also permissible to write very large numbers as combinations of numerals and words: 6 million, 4 billion.) Any number in the twenties, thirties, and so forth to the nineties should be spelled with a hyphen (twenty-one, forty-six, eighty-seven).There were twelve of us cooped up in a cell designed for two occupants. Of the twenty-six applications received, only nine were from people with suitable qualifications. More than five thousand members of the public responded to the advertisement. Even a number that would normally appear in numerals is spelled out when it occurs as the first word of a sentence:Six hundred twenty-seven people attended the meeting. It is usually quite easy to recast such a sentence in such a way as to avoid having to write out the number:The meeting was attended by 627 people. But if you wish to stress the number by putting it first (and, in this instance, avoid using the passive voice), spell the number out.In work that is scientific, mathematical, or technical in nature, it is usual to express all quantities and fractions as numerals. In nontechnical writing the normal rules apply for numbers, and common fractions are spelled out:According to the sign, we were sixty-seven kilometers from Paris. She owes me forty-five dollars. My weight in those days was about 120 pounds. Approximately three-fifths of the population is living below the poverty line. Christopher Columbus first sailed to the Americas more than five hundred years ago. Although most dating is done using numerals, it is customary to use a written ordinal number with the word century:During the second half of the sixteenth century … What many European historians refer to as "the long nineteenth century" finally came to an end in 1914. Times of day are usually written out when you are not giving a precise measurement of time or do not use the abbreviations A.M. and P.M.:from half past twelve to a quarter of one Let's meet up at three o'clock. NumeralsNumbers that cannot be spelled out in one or two words should be shown in numeral form:The child had already begun counting and knew that there were 351 days to go before next Christmas. While words tend to be used for round numbers, approximations, and in nontechnical contexts, numerals tend to predominate when exact figures are given, when you use a figure with an abbreviation, and in scientific and technical contexts generally. For example, dates are given in figures:November 12, 2002 the 1960s A.D. 54 or 54 C.E. (Note that abbreviations for eras, A.D. and B.C., or C.E. and B.C.E., are shown in small capitals. Also note that A.D. is always placed before the year.) Times that are followed by A.M. or P.M., designating a precise moment, are also set as numerals (and usually in small capitals, too):12:54 P.M. as are quantities using similar abbreviations:90 lbs. $45.23 and percentages and decimal fractions:75 percent or 75% 32.67 centimeters or 32.67 cm and scores in sports events, games, votes, and the like:If you get a score of 500 you can go on to the next level. In a 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court … The divisions of a written work are usually shown in numerals:in chapter 6 on page 127 lines 6–15 in act 2, scene 3 Volume 4 of this great work is to be published next year. Scientific, mathematical, technical, and statistical work generally includes a lot of figures, and it is customary to use numerals throughout:Of the 67 respondents, only 9, that is, less than 15%, achieved scores of 100 or above. ConsistencyWhere possible, it is best not to mix spelled-out numbers and numbers given as numerals within the same passage of text. If you give a series of numbers, one of which should be expressed in numerals according to the basic rules, then you should put them all into numerals. Generally, where many numbers cluster together it is usually clearer and neater to use numerals, too:The club president called out the numbers as the tickets were drawn from the hat. First came 76, then 5, then 133. I checked the numbers on my own tickets yet again. The ages of the members of the team are 22, 25, 27, 32, and 41. However, it may sometimes be an aid to clarity if you break the consistency rule in a case like the following, where one particular number refers to a different factor from the others:The ages of the members of the team are 22, 25 (three members), 27, 32, and 41. If you begin a sentence with a number, which must be written out, then it is best to write out another number if one occurs within the same sentence:Two hundred fifty guests were trying to sit down on one hundred fifty seats. But if the sentence involves several numbers, it would be much better to recast it.
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