categories of numbers

Guidelines for Presenting Numbers in Written Sentences

General Presentation Rules

• Guidelines establish how different types of numbers should be presented in written form.

  • Simple fractions must always be written out with hyphens.

  • Mixed fractions are generally written as numerals.

Specific Number Types

Fractions

• Simple Fractions: Always spelled out, e.g., "one-half" is expressed as one-half.

• Mixed Fractions: Written as numerals, e.g., 4 1/2.

Decimals

• Decimals are predominantly expressed as numerals:

  • Example: $10.75 for contributions towards group gifts.

  • Example: $2.35 for costs related to gifts.

  • Frequent use occurs in the context of money.

Percentages

• When writing percentages, express them as numerals followed by the word "percent" instead of using the symbol:

  • Example: "The human brain is 85 percent water."

  • Example: "The brain makes up approximately 2 percent of a person's body weight."

Dates

• The presentation of dates follows specific rules:

  • The month must be written out in full.

  • If the day precedes the month, it is expressed as an ordinal number (e.g., "February 15").

  • If the day follows the month, it is expressed as a cardinal number (e.g., "the 15th of February").

  • Common American date format includes MM/DD/YYYY (e.g., 02/15/2010).

  • Military or international formats write the day before the month and year fully: e.g., "Fifteen February two thousand and ten."

• Years are always presented as numerals:

  • Example: "March in 1870" and "from 1770 to 1773."

• Decades can be represented either as numerals or written words:

  • Example: "Nineteen sixties" or "the sixties."

Time

• The expression of time varies based on context:

  • The hour is typically written out in words for approximate times, including half or quarter hours: e.g., "around six o'clock."

  • With exact time expressions and when using AM or PM, numerals are utilized:

  • Example: "The flight to London leaves around 04:00."

  • Example: "Arrival in London around 11:30 or maybe 11:15."

  • Example: "Tour bus leaves at 02:37 PM."

Large Numbers

• It is recommended to avoid cluttering written text with excessive zeros and commas when dealing with large numbers:

  • For numbers that require no more than three words, it is best to express them in words.

  • In cases where the number exceeds three words, numerals are more appropriate.

  • Whole numbers are generally spelled out:

  • Example: 300,000,000 (three hundred million) and 14,000,000,000 (fourteen billion).

Dollar Amounts

• When writing large dollar amounts:

  • Present the amount without decimals or double zeros, but include a dollar sign and a numeral:

  • Example: $20,000,000,000 and $500,000.

Phone Numbers and Addresses

• Phone numbers, house numbers, and addresses are expressed using numerals:

  • Example: 70 Ellis Street.

  • Example: 1976 B West Carver Avenue.

  • Exception: The number "one" may be spelled out in specific addresses:

  • Example: 1 Talington Lane.

• Occasionally, numbered street names may be expressed in ordinal form, such as:

  • Example: 10 Northeast 42nd Street.

• When a street name combines numbers, it requires hyphens:

  • Example: 10 NE 42nd St.

Other Numerical Representations

• Most numbers appearing in sentences should be in numerals:

  • Example: Route 66, Room 8, Chapter Two, Locker 19, and Page 14 of Six.