can you write numbers in essays

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How to properly format numbers in academic essays – a comprehensive guide.

When writing academic essays, it is crucial to follow certain guidelines to ensure your work is clear, accurate, and professional. One area that often causes confusion is the use of numbers. Should you write numbers out in full or use numerals? Are there specific rules for when to use each format? In this article, we will explore the best practices for using numbers in academic writing to help you convey your ideas effectively.

One of the primary rules to keep in mind when using numbers in academic essays is consistency. Choose a style guide, such as APA or MLA, and stick to its guidelines throughout your paper. This will help maintain a uniform appearance and make your work easier to read. Additionally, consider the context in which you are using numbers. Are you discussing statistics, measurements, or dates? Each of these may require a different approach to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Another important aspect of using numbers in academic writing is knowing when to write them out in full and when to use numerals. In general, numbers zero to nine are typically written out in full (e.g., three, seven), while numerals are used for numbers 10 and above (e.g., 15, 42). However, there are exceptions to this rule, so be sure to consult your style guide for specific cases.

Importance of Using Numbers

Numbers play a crucial role in academic essays as they provide a concrete and quantitative basis for arguments and evidence. When used appropriately, numbers can add credibility and precision to your writing, making your arguments more convincing and compelling.

By including specific numerical data, such as statistics, percentages, or numerical examples, you can enhance the clarity and accuracy of your statements. Numbers can help quantify the magnitude of a problem, demonstrate trends over time, or compare different scenarios effectively.

Additionally, numbers can enhance the reader’s understanding of complex concepts and ideas by providing a clear and measurable context. They can also help you make your arguments more persuasive and impactful by presenting evidence in a concise and structured manner.

Overall, using numbers in academic essays is essential for presenting factual information, supporting your arguments with evidence, and making your writing more precise and effective. Properly integrating numbers into your writing can significantly strengthen your academic work and contribute to its overall quality.

Formatting Guidelines for Numbers

When writing academic essays, it is important to follow specific formatting guidelines for numbers to ensure clarity and consistency throughout your paper. Here are some key rules to keep in mind:

1. Spell out numbers one to nine: In general, spell out numbers from one to nine (e.g., “two apples”, “seven participants”) to improve readability and avoid confusion.

2. Use numerals for numbers 10 and above: Use numerals for numbers 10 and above (e.g., “12 years old”, “22 participants”) to maintain consistency in your writing.

3. Use numerals for measurements and percentages: Always use numerals for measurements (e.g., “5 meters”, “10 kilograms”) and percentages (e.g., “25%”) to provide accurate and precise information.

4. Use commas for numbers with four or more digits: Use commas to separate thousands, millions, etc., in numbers with four or more digits (e.g., 1,000, 10,000,000).

5. Be consistent in using numerical formats: Maintain consistency in how you present numbers within your essay. For instance, if you start a list with numerals, continue using numerals for the rest of the list.

Proper Use of Numerals

When writing an academic essay, it is important to know how to properly use numerals. Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Use numerals for numbers 10 and above: When expressing numbers 10 and above, use numerals. For example, “There were 15 participants in the study.”

2. Spell out numbers below 10: For numbers below 10, spell them out. For example, “There were seven different hypotheses tested in the study.”

3. Use numerals for units of measurement and time: Use numerals when expressing units of measurement (5 grams) and time (6 hours).

4. Consistency is key: Be consistent in your use of numerals throughout the essay. If you start with numerals, continue to use numerals for similar types of information.

5. Follow style guidelines: Some academic disciplines have specific style guidelines for the use of numerals. Make sure to follow the guidelines provided by your institution or the journal you are submitting to.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your use of numerals in your academic essay is clear and consistent.

Writing Numbers as Words

When writing numbers in academic essays, it is important to follow the style guide provided by your institution or the specific guidelines of the publication you are submitting your work to. In general, numbers from one to nine are typically written out as words (e.g., “two” or “seven”), while numbers 10 and above are written as numerals (e.g., 10 or 27). However, there can be exceptions to this rule depending on the style guide being used.

It is also a good practice to spell out ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third) rather than using numerals (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd) in academic writing. This helps maintain consistency and clarity throughout your essay. Additionally, when a sentence begins with a number, it is generally recommended to write it out as a word to avoid starting a sentence with a numeral.

Remember to always check the specific style guide you are required to follow for any variations or exceptions when writing numbers in your academic essays. Consistency and accuracy are key to conveying your ideas clearly and professionally.

Consistency in Number Usage

When writing academic essays, it is essential to maintain consistency in the usage of numbers throughout the document. This consistency applies to both the style and format of numbers used in the text. Here are some guidelines to ensure proper usage:

• Choose a style guide and follow its rules for writing numbers. Some style guides prefer spelling out numbers from one to ten and using numerals for numbers above ten, while others may have different preferences.
• Be consistent within the same sentence or paragraph. For example, if you spell out a number in one instance, make sure to do the same for similar numbers in the following sentences.
• Decide on a format for dates, times, and measurements and stick to it throughout the essay. For instance, choose between writing dates in the month-day-year format or the day-month-year format and use it consistently.
• Use numerals for percentages, decimals, fractions, and numbers with scientific units. Make sure to format these numbers according to the conventions of your chosen style guide.

By maintaining consistency in number usage, you can improve the readability and professionalism of your academic writing. Paying attention to these details demonstrates your attention to accuracy and precision in your work.

Tips for Enhancing Clarity

When using numbers in academic essays, it is essential to prioritize clarity to ensure that your reader can easily follow your arguments and understand your points. Here are some tips to enhance the clarity of your numerical expressions:

By following these tips, you can effectively enhance the clarity of your numerical expressions in academic essays and improve the overall readability of your work.

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• Writing numbers: words and numerals

APA Style Guidelines for Numbers | Words or Numerals?

Published on August 7, 2015 by Sarah Vinz . Revised on July 23, 2023.

Numbers can be written either as words (e.g., one hundred) or numerals (e.g., 100). In this article we follow the guidelines of APA Style , one of the most common style guides used in academic writing .

In general, words should be used for numbers from zero through nine, and numerals should be used from 10 onwards. This is true for both cardinal numbers (e.g., two, 11) and ordinal numbers (e.g., second, 11 th ). However, there are some important exceptions to this rule.

Note that other style guides, such as Chicago Style,  address numbers differently (for example, in Chicago, you use words for numbers up to 100). Regardless of what style guide you follow, the most important thing is to be consistent in how you treat numbers throughout your document.

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Table of contents

Writing percentages, reporting statistical results that include numbers, writing numbers that are accompanied by measurements, writing long numbers, consistency may not be obvious, other interesting articles.

Use numerals for numbers from zero to nine that are followed by a precise unit of measurement.

The samples measured 7 cm in diameter. (“cm” is a unit of measurement)

But: These three samples were subjected to further testing.

Use words for any number that is used to start a sentence, with the exception of years.

Seventy-two thousand ink cartridges are sold every day.

Nineteenth-century novels often feature complicated plot lines.

But: 2008 saw record olive crops throughout the Mediterranean.

Use words for common fractions and set expressions.

According to the survey, two thirds of the employees are dissatisfied.

Understanding the Five Pillars of Islam is a critical first step.

The Fourth of July is traditionally marked by a firework display.

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With percentages, the standard is to use numerals and “%” (not “percent”).

According to the report, 45% of the workforce is employed in the service sector. Only 6% currently work in agriculture.

The main exception is if you are using a percentage to begin a sentence. In this case, use words to express the entire percentage.

Thirteen percent of the patients reported that their symptoms improved after taking the experimental drug.

If your paper includes quantitative research, you probably have data to report. Statistics, mathematical functions, ratios, and percentages are all written using numerals. This is true regardless of whether they are included within a table or as part of the actual text. Keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Report most statistics to two decimal places (such as M = 5.44).
• Report statistics that could never exceed 1.0 to three decimal places (such as p < .001).
• If a value has the potential to exceed 1.0, use the leading zero. If a value can never exceed 1.0, do not use the leading zero.
• Italicize values that are not Greek letters (such as M , SD , p , and F ).
• Include spaces before and after =, >, and <.

The average IQ of the participants was relatively high ( M = 137.33, SD = 4.54).

The results of the second test were statistically significant, t (12) = 4.11, p < .05.

There are further detailed guidelines about reporting statistics in APA .

If a number comes immediately before a unit of measurement, use numerals.

Each patient received  5 mg  of the experimental drug.

The tallest participant was 2.03 m .

Also use numerals for precise ages, times, dates, scores, points on a scale, and amounts of money.

The final score of Ghana 2, Brazil 1 did not represent a decisive victory.

Children under 8 years receive a $50 discount.

But: Most girls start reading when they are about five years old. (“about” makes the number imprecise)

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Longer numbers follow specific rules:

• Use a period to indicate a decimal point.
• Starting with 1,000, use commas to separate every three digits.

The region has an average of 43.75 doctors for every 10,000 people.

Some predict that the number of users will reach 2 billion by 2020.

One of the main reasons why writing numbers is complicated is that consistently applying the rules may lead to a text that actually seems very in consistent. Consider the following paragraphs:

At about the age of seven , the girl’s height was 1.47 m. This placed her in the fifth percentile, although her weight placed her in the top 7% of her class. By the time she was 9 years old, she was taller than half of the boys in her year. Five years later, she was still ranked 15 th .

Thirteen thousand viewers watched the performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night from the park, while another 2,000 watched from the surrounding buildings and 1.2 million watched it on television. As one  out of every 11 residents saw at least part of the play, this one event can definitely be considered a success.

These texts may look awkward because so many different number formats have been used, but don’t be deceived – the above guidelines have all been followed.

If you are not required to strictly follow a particular style (such as APA format ), you may have some flexibility to modify the guidelines presented in this article. Just be sure to apply any modifications you make throughout your entire document.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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Daily Writing Tips

10 rules for writing numbers and numerals.

How do you express numbers in your writing? When do you use figures (digits) and when do you write out the number in words (letters)? That is, when do you write 9 and when do you write nine ?

1. Number versus numeral . First things first, what is the difference between a number and a numeral? A number is an abstract concept while a numeral is a symbol used to express that number. “Three,” “3” and “III” are all symbols used to express the same number (or the concept of “threeness”). One could say that the difference between a number and its numerals is like the difference between a person and her name.

2. Spell small numbers out . The small numbers, such as whole numbers smaller than ten, should be spelled out. That’s one rule you can count on. If you don’t spell numbers out it will look like you’re sending an instant message, and you want to be more formal than that in your writing.

3. No other standard rule : Experts don’t always agree on other rules. Some experts say that any one-word number should be written out. Two-word numbers should be expressed in figures. That is, they say you should write out twelve or twenty . But not 24 .

4. Using the comma . In English, the comma is used as a thousands separator (and the period as a decimal separator), to make large numbers easier to read. So write the size of Alaska as 571,951 square miles instead of 571951 square miles. In Continental Europe the opposite is true, periods are used to separate large numbers and the comma is used for decimals. Finally, the International Systems of Units (SI) recommends that a space should be used to separate groups of three digits, and both the comma and the period should be used only to denote decimals, like $13 200,50 (the comma part is a mess… I know).

5. Don’t start a sentence with a numeral . Make it “Fourscore and seven years ago,” not “4 score and 7 years ago.” That means you might have to rewrite some sentences: “Fans bought 400,000 copies the first day” instead of “400,000 copies were sold the first day.”

6. Centuries and decades should be spelled out . Use the Eighties or nineteenth century .

7. Percentages and recipes . With everyday writing and recipes you can use digits, like “4% of the children” or “Add 2 cups of brown rice.” In formal writing, however, you should spell the percentage out like “12 percent of the players” (or “twelve percent of the players,” depending on your preference as explained in point three).

8. If the number is rounded or estimated, spell it out . Rounded numbers over a million are written as a numeral plus a word. Use “About 400 million people speak Spanish natively,” instead of “About 400,000,000 people speak Spanish natively .” If you’re using the exact number, you’d write it out, of course.

9. Two numbers next to each other . It can be confusing if you write “7 13-year-olds”, so write one of them as a numeral, like “seven 13-year-olds”. Pick the number that has the fewest letters.

10. Ordinal numbers and consistency . Don’t say “He was my 1st true love,” but rather “He was my first true love.” Be consistent within the same sentence. If my teacher has 23 beginning students, she also has 18 advanced students, not eighteen advanced students.

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210 thoughts on “10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals”

Most of these are correct. But, concerning 7, the percentage symbol should not be used in everyday writing. The percentage symbol is for business use, such as visual presentation. In other forms the word “percent” should be used. Also, your example in 10, concerning the students, is correct because the numbers are related. But, if the numbers aren’t related, then the “rule of ten” applies. Here’s an example: Sadly, there were only eight computers available to the 23 students.

As always, the tips provided here are valuable for many. That’s why I keep coming back “daily.”

Jay, good point on number seven. I think you should use digits for everyday writing and spell the percentage out in formal writing (like a newspaper article). I added this remark.

I believe there is a rule on using numbers with age as well, right? As in “always use figures to represent the age of a person.”

I was not aware of those of these rules, cool.

Is the comma used as a thousand separator everywhere English is spoken, or is that just an American rule?

Berto, that is the English standard, so it should apply both to UK and US.

Notice, however, that some places around the world use the dot as a separator and the comma to denote decimals.

To add confusion, the International System of Units recommends to use spaces to the sets of three digits, and use the comma or period just for the decimal.

I just added this info to the post, thanks for asking.

#2 is one that I always have a dilemma with. I know with AP style writing you’re suppose to write numbers you’ve stated in #2. In MLA style, you write one, five, twenty-one, one hundred, eighteen hundred, but write 5½, 101, 3,810. I actually like the AP style better with writing out one through nine and ten on, writing it as 10, 11, 12, etc.

I am curious though, your #2 you said “The small numbers, such as whole numbers smaller than ten, should be spelled out.” Why have you not wrote 10 as “10” since only numbers smaller than 10 should be spelled out?

Oops, that would make sense. But see rule #3!

Deron, point two says that all whole numbers smaller than ten should be spelled out. It does not say anything about number equal or greater than ten. In fact, if you then read point 3 you will see that there is no standard rule for those numbers, some authors like to write them in digits, others still prefer to spell them out.

Heh, now I feel bad for naming my blog 60 in 3. Oh well, thank you as always for the great tips.

Firstly: 1. Number versus numeral. First things first, what is the difference between a number and a numeral? A number is an abstract concept while a numeral is a symbol used to express that number.

Then: 5. Don’t start a sentence with a number. Make it “Fourscore and seven years ago,” not “4 score and 7 years ago.”

Shouldn’t that be: 5. Don’t start a sentence with a NUMERAL.

Last time I checked, “four” and “4” where both numbers…

van, number 5 is fixed, thanks for the heads up.

Then, “four” and “4” are both numerals used to express the concept of “fourness,” they are not numbers themselves, they are symbols.

It is quite confusing I know, and probably not useful for the average writer. The other rules do apply though.

I suppose it depends what grammar book you want to fall back on, but it would easy to argue that you’re flat-out wrong about when to spell out numbers.

Use numerals before anything that can be measured: 3 decades, 3 years, 3 GB but not 3 children.

Use numerals when using a single digit number and a number composed of two or more digits in the same sentence. “Bob ate 3 cows and 12 pigs,” not “Bob are three cows and 12 pigs.”

One more for your list: Spell out any number used in a quote: “…four score..” and not “…4 score..”

Michael, 3 years you say? Well, here is a quote from the NY Times:

“Dobbs’s correspondents said there had been 7,000 cases of leprosy in this country over the previous three years, far more than in the past.”

“the difference between a number and its numerals is like the difference between a person and its name”

..a person and his name or ..a person and her name but never ..a person and its name

Bill, fixed that. I was thinking about an object and its name 🙂 , like the words that define it.

What I think it boils down to is: try writing the numerals in words; chances are that’s the right way. If words are obviously more confusing than digits, use digits. For example: “the second chapter”; “she’ll be eleven years old in two days”; “it’s the third road down the right”. These are all correct. But “seventeen point twelve percent of the data applies to all of our six hundred and forty two units and the rest only concerns the items that are stored in area three seven two” is confusing, and the numbers here should be written in digits. It’s more flexible than the rules above, but it follows the same spirit.

The comma is an English rule, so it must apply in the US as well. (NOT the other way about)

#4: The UK is in Europe. We do not use a comma as you describe. Thanks anyway.

Also whilst we’re talking about international numbering, isn’t it about time that the USA moved on from imperial measurements to metric like the rest of the world?

Good point Emmanuel, common sense should help here as usual.

I didn’t know about all the rules. I visited this for the first time but I liked it. I will visit it regularly. Keep it up. Thanks

Hey Daniel, thanks for pointing that out. My mistake on misreading what was there. 🙂

With that said, since there is not standard rule, what is your own personal preference?

I’ve been reading quite a bit about typography lately, which has impressed on me another rule that you should add to your list:

In the flow of a typical sentence (i.e. for ‘inline’ numbers), you should use “lower case” numbers.

Yes, you can have lower case numbers!

@James And about time the UK used kg instead of stone to denote body weight

James, enjoy 2.5 dl of tea

You can write it out when it is two words or less. Twenty is acceptable. Twenty-four is acceptable. If it requires more than two words, you should use the numbers.

So you say to spell out twelve, but then you say “12 percent”? Shouldn’t it be “twelve percent”?

Nitro, we are not saying you should spell out twelve. The only standard rule, as stated in point one, is to spell out whole numbers smaller than ten.

Other than that it is up to the author and his preference for the specific situation.

Personally I like use digits above the number te because it makes the text more clear, like “15 percent.” For smaller numbers you can spell them out though, like “five percent” or “two percent.”

These standards are good for English, but why not broaden the standard to multiple languages?

Why not just remove spelling out of numerals completely and standardize on using Arabic numbers? Then the numbers would never have to be translated except to traditional less used numbering systems. Then people who read the articles in foreign languages like French, Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Russian, and a plethora more could understand without mentally having to translating from the English naming convention into their own numerical naming convention.

gr commenent Pascal-its g 2 c read comments from ppl with g sense of humours. ur a *!

Out of interest how would write operators?

PS you need a subscribe to comments option

Everton, it is on the “to do” list 🙂 .

Thank you very much for providing this very valuable lesson in writing skills I’ve always wanted to acquire.

Good tips. I’m enjoying this website quite a bit. 🙂

One more point I’d add, though, is using numerals for lists. It helps one remember the number itself more easily than if you had spelt it out, and aids quick comparison. E.g.,

3 eggs 4 cartons of milk 1 roast duck 2 oranges

Don’t you think the title should have been Ten Rules for… instead of 10 Rules for … considering your own guidelines?

Mike, usually titles have different rules, as far as typography goes at least (we should have covered that perhaps).

Like titles usually have all the words starting with capital letters, you don’t write that way normally.

That said, even if you consider our guidelines the “10 Rules” is congruent with points two and three. They state that numbers smaller than ten should be spelled out, and after that it is preference of the author.

Thanks Daniel. As you mentioned that titles have different rules. I feel the title should start with a word. It looks more aesthetically pleasing. Not sure whether anyone agrees with me.

Mike, I agree with you 🙂 . Maybe starting the title with a word is more pleasant, I will research about it and even experiment with it in the future.

You shouldn’t write “percent” ever. It’s wrong like “etcetera” is wrong. Put the space between the words: “per cent”.

Very well written list. Now if we could teach all newscasters and advertisers how to SAY numbers I would be in heaven. Seems they all got stupid in the year two thousand AND one.

It is funny when people come and say: “hey, you should not say that, ever!” or “you are dead wrong here!”

Just make a quick search on the net before posting such strong statements.

Per cent is the preferred British form, and percent is the American usage. Open the NY Times or the Wall Street Journal and you will find “percent” everywhere.

Thanks for the comment though, it served the purpose of clarifying this point.

Good post! There were many points, which I havent known until I read this article. But seems some of these rules are not practicable special ‘dot’ and ‘comma’ rule. -Nish

I never really new there was a difference. Thanks for the post. Very informative!

What is correct: “It’s my 13th birthday” or “It’s my thirteenth birthday”?

I like to know how to write the number seven hundred two thousand, three

as i am the first visitor of this web site so i have no comment writs now .

what about: 24-7 (VS) twenty-four seven ??

How would you write 1.5 to 2 acre lots?

Sir My Need IELTS book and DVD

Send my Address

Abdullah Al Masud C/O Md.Azizur Rahman Block # C , Road # 37 House # 33 Uposhohar , Sylhet Bangladesh

Which is correct?

We celebrated our ninth birthday party together. We celebrated our ninth birthday partys together.

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Rules for Writing Numbers

Should you write “one” or “1,” “ten” or “10”? Read on to learn when you should write numbers with words instead of digits.

• Rules for writing numbers depend on the writer and the style guide.
• Some writers avoid using digits for 0–10, and then use them for anything higher.
• Others opt to write out the word if the number can be written in two words or fewer.
• The most important rule is to be consistent.

Writing Numbers

When it comes to writing numbers , using digits might be the easier option. But is using digits instead of words acceptable in all settings, including formal writing? We’ll discuss this and more below.

When To Spell Out Numbers

When writing numbers , deciding to use digits (e.g., “7”) versus words (e.g., “seven”) varies from writer to writer and style guide to style guide. If you’re writing for a publication like a newspaper, magazine, or online blog, you should ask what their rules are for writing numbers . Otherwise, using numbers or words is up to you. But if you want advice on writing numbers, you can keep the following general guidelines in mind.

1. Numbers “0-10” should be written with words. Anything higher should be written in digits.

One major guideline many writers follow is to write numbers “0–10” (sometimes “0-9” or “0–12”) in words and numbers that are higher in digits.

I was four years old when my mom first took me to Disney World.

My baby brother turned 16 yesterday.

Benjamin guessed that there were 230 marbles in the jar.

Keep in mind that you might have to adapt this guideline for extraordinarily large numbers. For example, AP style suggests a combination of both numbers and words when writing a number like 7 million.

2. Some style guides recommend writing the number in words if you can do so in two words or fewer.

Additionally, certain style guides advise spelling out numbers if doing so results in two words or fewer . For example, instead of using the digits “23”, you’d write out twenty-three.

If you opt to use this guideline, remember to include a hyphen when writing numbers with two words.

Sixty-five students auditioned for the lead role.

We had three hours to bake fifty cookies.

Mr. Bouchard went from a class with thirty students to a class with twenty-five students.

3. When starting a sentence with a number, always use the word, not the digit.

Just as every sentence should start with a capital letter , sentences that begin with numbers should always use the word, not the digit.

54 countries make up the continent of Africa.

Fifty-four countries make up the continent of Africa.

If the number is large and has more than two words, try rearranging the sentence.

Four hundred and twenty-five degrees is how hot the oven should be when baking the bread.

The oven should be set to 425 degrees when baking the bread.

One Bonus Tip:

Not only can LanguageTool help you with spelling and grammar, but it can also help you with numbers. This intelligent writing assistant will remind you to add a hyphen to compound numbers, and will also recommend not starting a sentence with a digit. Enhance your writing. Try it out today.

So, Is It Numbers or Words?

Clearly, there are a lot of things to consider when writing numbers. Two additional guidelines to remember are:

• Using digits is more common in business and technical writing.
• When writing dates , use digits (e.g., 12 July 2022 )

At the end of the day, how to write numbers is up to the writer’s stylistic preference. The only major rule that you should follow is to remain consistent. Pick a style and stick with it throughout your text. And if you’re writing for a publication, your best bet is to ask what the style guidelines are. Now that you’re familiar with writing numbers , start writing in three … two … one .

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Writing numbers When to use words and when to use numerals

It can be difficult to know how to write numbers in academic writing (e.g. five or 5 , 1 million or 1,000,000 ). This section gives some guidelines on when to use words to write numbers, and when to use numerals . There are also some exceptions to the rule which are considered, i.e. times when you might expect to use words but should instead use numerals. There is also a checklist at the end, that you can use to check the use of numbers in your own writing.

When to use words

In general, words should be used for zero to ten , and numerals used from 11 onwards. The same rule should be applied to ordinal numbers, i.e. use words for first, second up to tenth, and numbers plus 'th' (or 'st') from 11th onwards. However, it is always best to check what the accepted practice is at your university (or in your department/on your course), and remember that some common referencing systems have their own, different requirements, as follows.

• MLA . Use words if the number can be written using one or two words (e.g. three , twenty-seven ).
• APA . Use words for numbers zero to nine.
• Chicago . Use words for numbers zero to one hundred.

Before looking at when to use numerals (which is almost all other situations, see next), it is useful to look at important exceptions.

(1) When the number begins a sentence , you should use words , whatever the size of the number (though if possible, rewrite the sentence so the number is not at the beginning).

• Fifty respondents agreed with the statement.
• There were 50 respondents who agreed with the statement. [ rewritten sentence ]
• 50 respondents agreed with the statement.

(2) When expressing part of a very large round number , e.g. million, billion, you should use words for that large number part (it is common to use abbreviations m for million and bn billion ).

• The population of the earth is now in excess of 7 billion people.
• The population of the earth is now in excess of 7bn people.
• The population of the earth is now in excess of 7,000,000,000 people.
• The population of the UK is approximately 70 million.
• The population of the UK is approximately 70,000,000.

Conversely, numerals should be used rather than words, whatever the size of the number, when large and small numbers are combined , since this makes comparisons easier.

• There were 2 respondents in the first category, and 22 in the second.
• There were two respondents in the first category, and 22 in the second.

When to use numerals

Numerals are used for almost all other situations. These include the following.

• Measurements (e.g. 6 kg, 3 cm, 10 min, 2 hr, 3 days, 6 years, 5 decades )
• Currency (e.g. $10, £50, £60 billion )
• Statistical data , including survey data (e.g. A survey of participants revealed that 4 out of 5 students worked. )
• Mathematical functions (e.g. v 2 = u 2 + 2as )
• Decimals (e.g. 2.5, 4.54 )
• Percentages (e.g. 75% )
• Ratios (e.g. 3:1 )
• Percentiles/quartiles (e.g. the 95th percentile, the 1st quartile )
• Times (e.g. 12.30 a.m., 6 p.m., 16:00 )
• Dates (e.g. Wednesday 25 December 2019 )
• Scores/points on a scale (e.g. This item scored 5 on a 9-point scale )

Other important points

The following are a few other points to remember when using numbers.

• Consistency. You should be consistent in how you write numbers; for example, if write a figure like 7bn in one place, do not write a figure like 5 billion in another.
• Use of commas. When giving numerals of 1,000 or larger, use commas for each thousand, e.g. 5,500, 8,326,500 .
• Use of hyphens. When displaying a range, use a hyphen, with no space, e.g. 30%–50%
• Expressing fractions. Fractions can be written either as numerals e.g. 2/3 or words e.g. two-thirds . If using words, use a hyphen.

American Psychological Association (2019a) Numbers Expressed in Words . Available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/numbers/words (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

American Psychological Association (2019b) Numbers Expressed in Numerals . Available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/numbers/numerals (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

Harvard Wiki (2019) Numbers . Available at: https://wiki.harvard.edu/confluence/display/HSG/Numbers . (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

University of Bristol (2015) Using numbers . Available at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_33.htm (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

University of New England (nd) Numbers in academic writing . Available at: https://aso-resources.une.edu.au/academic-writing/miscellaneous/numbers/ (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

University of Oxford (2015) Style Guide . Available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/media_wysiwyg/University%20of%20Oxford%20Style%20Guide.pdf (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

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Below is a checklist for using numbers in academic writing. Use it to check your writing, or as a peer to help.

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Author: Sheldon Smith    ‖    Last modified: 16 January 2022.

Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .

Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.

Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).

Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.

Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).

Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.

Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.

Numbers are used in all sorts of scholarly works. For example, writers may report numerical information about participants (number of participants, demographic information such as age, etc.) as well as the results of statistical analyses.

Even writers who are not conducting empirical research often use statistical information to support key points. For example, writers conducting a literature review or writing a response paper may report numerical information such as the percentage of people diagnosed with a particular disease or disorder, the staffing levels of psychologists or nurses, or the number of terms on a topic they were familiar with.

When writers follow guidelines for number usage, their papers become more consistent and readable.

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Numbers & Statistics 

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Writers often need to discuss numbers and statistics in their manuscripts, and it can be a challenge to determine how to represent these in the most readable way. APA 7 contains detailed guidelines for how to write numbers and statistics, and the most common are listed below. These guidelines, however, are not exhaustive and writers may need to evaluate particular instances of numbers in their own writing to determine if the guideline applies or if an exception should be made for clarity.

Numbers 

Generally, you can spell out numbers below 10 in words (seven, three), and use numerals for anything 10 and higher (10, 42). 

• You should use Arabic numerals (1, 7) instead of Roman numerals (II, XI) unless the Roman numerals are part of established terminology in your field. 
• In numbers greater than 1,000, use commas to separate groups of three digits except in page numbers, binary code, serial numbers, temperatures, acoustic frequencies, and degrees of freedom. 
• Do not add apostrophes when writing a plural of a number (the 2000s, the 70s).

Use a numeral in these cases:

• a number 10 or higher anywhere in the paper
• a number right before a unit of measurement (3 m, 24 g)
• a number denoting: mathematical functions, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, percentiles (2:1 ratio, 5%)
• a number denoting: time, a date, an age, a point on a scale, an exact amount of money, or a numeral (the 3 key on your keyboard, 7 years old, a 5 on the test)
• a number indicating a place in a series or a part of a book/table, if the number is after a noun (i.e., Item 4, but words are used in cases like "the fourth item")

Spell the number out in words in these cases:

• a number from 0-9 anywhere in the paper, except the specific cases above
• a number that starts a sentence, heading, or title (though this should be avoided)
• a number that is a common fraction (one half, two thirds)
• a number that is part of a common phrase (Noble Eightfold Path)

When numbers are written next to each other in a sentence, one strategy to help readers parse the sentence is to combine words and numerals (3 two-year-old owls, four 3-step plans), but rewording to separate the numbers may be the best choice for clarity in some cases. Clarity for readers is always the most important consideration.

Ordinal Numbers 

Treat ordinal numbers (3rd, fourth) the same way as other numbers, using the guidelines above. You may use a superscript or not (1 st , 1 st ), but you should maintain the same usage throughout your paper.

Decimal Fractions 

In numbers less than 1, writers may include a leading 0 before the decimal point or not. This choice is based on the maximum possible amount of the statistic:

• If the statistic can be greater than 1, use a leading 0 (0.24 in)
• If the statistic cannot be greater than 1, do not use a leading 0 (p = .042)

APA's general principle for rounding decimals in experimental results is as follows, quoted here for accuracy: "Round as much as possible while considering prospective use and statistical precision" (7th edition manual, p. 180). Readers can more easily understand numbers with fewer decimal places reported, and generally APA recommends rounding to two decimal places (and rescaling data if necessary to achieve this).

Some more specific guidelines for particular values are listed below.

One decimal place:

• standard deviations

Two decimal places:

• correlations
• proportions
• inferential statistics
• exact p values (can be reported to two or three places; when p is less than .001, write p < .001)

Statistical Copy 

These rules cover presentation of data, not accuracy of data or the best way to conduct analysis.

You can represent data in the text, in a table, or in a figure. A rule of thumb is:

• <3 numbers → try a sentence
• 4-20 numbers → try a table
• >20 numbers → try a figure

Clarity is always paramount.

When discussing statistics in common use, you do not need to provide a reference or formula.

If the statistic or expression is new, rare, integral to the paper, or used in an unconventional way, provide a reference or formula.

The purpose of reporting statistics is usually to help readers confirm your findings and analyses; as such, the degree of specificity in reporting results should follow in line with that purpose.

When your data are multilevel, you should include summary statistics for each level, depending on the kind of analysis performed. When your data are reported in a table or figure, you do not need to repeat each number in the text, but you should mention the table or figure in the text when discussing the statistics and emphasize in-text key data points that help interpret your findings. 

Use words like "respectively" or "in order" to clarify each statistic mentioned in text and their referent.

For instance:

Confidence intervals should be reported: 90% CI [ LL, UL ], with LL as the lower limit and UL as the upper limit of the interval. You do not need to repeat confidence intervals in the same paragraph or in a series when the meaning is clear and the confidence interval has not changed. When CIs follow the report of a point estimate, you do not need to repeat the unit of measurement.

Statistics uses a great deal of symbols and abbreviations (when a term can be both, the abbreviation refers to the concept and the symbol indicates a numeric value).

You do not need to define these when they represent a statistic or when they are composed of Greek letters. You do need to define any other abbreviation (such as ANOVA, CFA, SEM) in your paper. If the analysis you are performing uses multiple notation styles for symbols and abbreviations, only use one consistently throughout your paper.

Some other statistical symbol guidelines include:

• use words rather than symbols in narrative text; when you report a stats term with other mathematical symbols like = or +, use the symbol
• population parameters use Greek letters while estimators use Latin letters in italics (usually)
• uppercase, italicized N indicates the total membership of a sample; lowercase, italicized n indicates the membership of a subgroup of a sample such as a treatment group or control group
• % and currency symbols like $ should only be used with numerals (15%, $25) or in table headings and figure labels to save space
• use standard type (no italics or bold) for Greek letters, subscript and superscript identifiers, and abbreviations that are not variables such as log
• use bold type for vector and matrix symbols
• use italics for all other statistical symbols

Mathematical Copy 

For ease of reading, use spaces between elements in a mathematical expression ( a + b = c ), except in the case of a minus sign indicating a negative number which uses a space before the minus but not between the minus and the numeral.

Use subscripts first and then superscripts, except in the case of key symbols like the superscript for prime.

All equations should be punctuated to fit in the syntax of the sentence, even if they are presented on their own line.

Short, simple equations can be written in a regular line of text, with a slash (/) for fractions. Parentheses, square brackets, and braces should be used (in that order, from innermost to outermost) to indicate order of operations. Equations that do not fit vertically in the line of text should be shown on their own line. 

All displayed equations (equations on their own line) should be numbered, similarly to tables and figures, so that they can be referred to later (and simple equations may be displayed rather than written in a line of text if they will need to be referred to later by number).

In text, equations should be referred to by name (Equation 1 or the first equation are both acceptable). The equation number does not need a special label, and instead should be displayed in parentheses toward the right margin of the page:

  If a symbol in your equation cannot be entered with your word processor, use an image; otherwise, type all equations exactly as you would like them to appear in the publication.

Writing Numbers: How to Write Numbers Correctly (Examples)

Are you confused about how to write numbers correctly in your writing? Should you spell them out or use numerals? After reading this article, you'll wonder no more.

You have several options when writing numbers: spell them out or use digits. Which one you go for will depend on common number writing conventions and the style guide you're using.

This article is part of our free online Grammar Book .

What Are the Different Types of Numbers?

Before diving in, let's review the different kinds of numbers. The two main types are cardinal and ordinal numbers.

• Cardinal numbers are what you think of when you think of numbers: one, two, three, etc. They tell you how many of something there is, and you use them for counting. 

Here are some examples of sentences that use cardinal numbers:

I have one dog and three cats. The concert was attended by over a thousand people. There were nine of us in the office this morning. 

• Ordinal numbers tell you what order things are in or their rank or position: first, second, third, etc . As the word 'ordinal' suggests, ordinal numbers allow you to put things in order.

Here are some examples of sentences that use ordinal numbers:

She came second in the competition.  I'm the third tallest girl in my class. Our offices are on the sixteenth floor.

There are also other types of numerals, such as nominal, iterative, multiplicative, and many more.

How to Write Numbers Correctly

Now that we've established what numbers are and the different types, let's learn how to write them.

You can either spell out a number as such:

Or you can write it in numerals , as such:

This can be a little tricky because different style guides follow different rules. Your best bet is always to consult your chosen style guide if you have one. If you don't , this article will provide some guidance in the form of commonly used conventions for writing numbers.

I'll use the words 'numeral, ' 'Arabic numbers,' 'digits,' and 'figures' interchangeably to refer to numbers ('1') and the terms 'spell out' and 'letters' to refer to words written out ('one').

Writing Cardinal Numbers

I'll start by outlining standard practice for cardinal numbers. Again, these are just general guidelines that are most commonly agreed upon, and you can feel free to deviate from these. The key is to remain consistent: pick a style and stick with it.

Spell the First Word

Firstly, it's standard practice to spell out a number if it's the first word in the sentence , which trumps any other rule. So, for example, even though dates are usually written in numerals, if it's the first word in the sentence, you should spell it out.

If you'd prefer to write it in numerals for better aesthetic and readability, you can always rephrase your sentence so the date isn't the first word.

For example:

Nineteen-ninety nine was a big year for us. A big year for us was 1999.

Small and Large Numbers

A good rule of thumb is to spell out numbers zero through nine and use numerals from there onwards. However, some style guides disagree with this, such as the Chicago Manual of Style, which suggests that you spell out the numbers zero through one hundred and use numbers from 101 onwards.

Just pick the rule that makes the most sense to you!

Years, Decades, and Centuries

Generally, it's best to write specific years in Arabic numerals.

I was born in 1972.

Spell out decades in formal writing, but know that it's also safe to write them in numerals. Just remember there's no apostrophe before the 's.'

I love the fashion in the sixties. I love the fashion in the 60s. I love the fashion in the 1960s.

The same rule applies to centuries: spell it out in formal writing, but numerals are acceptable the rest of the time.

This is the twenty-first century, you know . This is the 21st century, you know. 

Percentages

Write percentages in figures followed by the percent sign.

I'm about 80% certain this deal isn't going to go through .

Units of Measurement

Write units of measurement in figures:

I weigh 65kg. The park is 100m to the right. He ran the race in 3h45mn.

Write money in figures, too:

I've only got $1 to my name. The house is about 10 grand over my budget. You're 5 cents short.

Fractions and Decimals

Fractions aren't technically cardinal numbers, but we use a mixture of cardinal and ordinal numbers to spell them out. Depending on the context, they can be written in numerals or letters. Usually, if it's a scientific or mathematical text, the fraction will be written in figures, but if it's any other kind of text (such as an essay discussing research findings,  you'll most likely want to spell it out.

About one-fifth of the class is behind in Mathematics. 

Write decimals using numerals. If you have to spell it out, round it up to the closest number:

Unless it is half, then you can write:

one and a half.

Multiple Numbers in a Sentence

If your sentence has two numbers in a row, you should use different formats for each one so they don't get mixed up.

There are five 4-year olds in my class.

If a sentence has multiple numbers and one of them requires numerals, then use numerals for all of them, even those under 10.

The farm has 3 goats, 11 cows, 5 horses and 8 pigs.

Using Hyphens in Numbers

Sometimes when spelling out numbers, you'll need to use a hyphen . We use them to connect two-word numbers. Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.

There are one thousand, three hundred and fifty-six children that go to this high school .

Als,o hyphenate fractions:

About two-thirds of the population have tried meditation at least once.

Writing Ordinal Numbers

Now we've covered how to write cardinal numbers, let's learn how to write ordinal numbers. First of all, you might want to know how to make them.

For the most part, you create ordinal numbers by adding 'th' to cardinal numbers.

That's with the exception of the following:

Other than those, it's pretty smooth sailing:

• fifteenth, and so on.

To write them in numerals, it's even easier: you add the last two letters of the written number to the end of the cardinal number:

• Fir st  → 1st
• Seco nd → 2nd
• Thi rd → 3rd
• Four th → 4th
• Fif th → 5th

So what are ordinal numbers used for? The answer is they are pretty much used for any kind of positioning or ranking. That could include floors of a building, dates, fractions, centuries, positions in line,e or lists.

When should you spell vs use numerals with ordinals? The answer is the same as with cardinal numbers: spell them out from 'first' to 'ninth,' and then after that, use numerals.

Concluding Thoughts

That concludes this article on writing numbers correctly. I hope you now feel more confident using numbers in your writing.

Let's summarize what we've learned:

• The two main types of numbers are cardinal and ordinal.
• You can either spell out or use numerals when writing numbers.
• It's generally agreed upon that you should spell out numbers zero through nine and then switch to digits.
• Different style guides have different rules.
• Stay consistent with the rules you decide to follow.

If you enjoyed this article, check out our Grammar Book , a free online database of articles to help you with your writing, just like this one. Check it out!

Learn More:

• Ellipses: When to Use Ellipses in Writing (Examples)
• ‘Ninty’ or ‘Ninety’: How to Spell the Number ‘90’ Correctly
• Simple Sentence: What Is a Simple Sentence? Definition and Examples
• Sentence Fragments: What Are Sentence Fragments? Definition and Examples
• Periods: When to Use Periods in Writing (Examples)
• Question Marks: When to Use Question Marks in Writing (Examples)
• Exclamation Points: When to Use Exclamation Points in Writing (Examples)
• Semicolons: When to Use Semicolons in Writing (Examples)
• Apostrophes: When to Use Apostrophes in Writing (Examples)
• Parentheses: When to Use Parentheses in Writing (Examples)
• Brackets: When to Use Brackets in Writing (Examples)
• Slash: When to Use Slash in Writing (Examples)
• Italics and Underlining: When to Use Italics and Underlining in Writing (Examples)
• ‘Holliday’ or ‘Holiday’: How to Spell ‘Holiday’ Correctly
• ‘Colum’ or ‘Column’: How to Spell ‘Column’ Correctly

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The Barker Underground

Writing advice from the harvard college writing center tutors, one hundred percent or 100% tips for writing numbers..

by Raymond DeLuca, English Grammar and Language Tutor

Students bring all sorts of different essays to the Writing Center, and each discipline has its own conventions when it comes to writing numbers. People are always surprised to learn that, yes, there are good and not so good ways to write numbers in English. So, this information will save you a headache. After all, it is not the best use of your time when writing an essay (especially when it’s due in a few hours) to get stuck thinking, well, is it “3” or “three”?

Just as there are different citation styles for citing sources in different academic fields, there are also different conventions for writing numbers. Each of the most common citation styles—MLA, APA, and Chicago– offers slightly different rules for writing numbers. You should always make sure you know what style and citation guidelines you should be following for a specific assignment. If you are writing a non-technical paper and can choose your style, I recommend following the MLA guidelines, which make a lot of sense and are commonly used in cases where you’re not using a lot of numbers.

Rule #1: When should you write out numbers and when should you use the number?

For papers in the humanities and in some social sciences, you will often use either the MLA or Chicago citation styles. In those styles, when you are writing a non-technical paper, you should write out numbers less than one hundred, using a dash for two-digit numbers: eight, fifteen, forty-five, sixty-two, eighty-seven, etc., etc.  And, for numbers over one hundred: 1,435; 2,870; 5,740; 11,480. Someone here is bound to ask: “Well, does that mean one trillion should be written as 1,000,000,000,000?” No, of course not. If the number (even if it’s above one hundred) can be easily expressed in words, then keep it in words: four hundred, eight thousand, three billion, nine quintillion, etc.

If you’re using APA style, you should generally only write out numbers 1-9 and use numerals for everything else. But there is an exception: If you are using a number at the beginning of the sentence, you should write it out.

Rule #2 What about percentages?

Just like with regular numbers, different style guides express different preferences for percentages.  I like the MLA style, which advises that for a percentage less than one hundred, you should write it in words: two percent, seventy-six percent, ninety-nine percent, but, for a percentage greater than one hundred, write it in numerals: 110 percent, 500 percent, 999 percent. Besides that, as you can see, in non-technical writing, it is better to use the word “percent” rather than the percent sign, “%.” It’s ugly.

In this case, Chicago and APA style both call for using use numbers in percentages.

Rule #3: What about years?

MLA, Chicago, and APA style all say that years are better written in numerals, not words: 1967, not “nineteen sixty-seven.” (Sometimes students write out the years to pad their paper’s word count; it’s not a good look! Everyone can see what you’re doing.) It’s also considered poor style to start a sentence with a year, i.e., “2020 has been a bad year.” You could rephrase that, writing instead: “Many people thought 2020 would be a better year.”

Rule #4: What about decades?

If you’re talking about a series of events that occurred in a certain decade, say, from 1980 – 1989, you can refer to that period in three different ways: the eighties, the ‘80s, or the 1980s. But stay clear of the “nineteen eighties.”

Rule #5: If you ever find yourself writing about a score or a court decision or a ratio, you should stick with numerals (even if said numbers are less than one hundred). For example, “The Red Sox were up 4-2 before losing 6-4,” or “The contentious 5-4 Supreme Court ruling says…”

These are obviously not the only situations you will encounter when you need to write a number, but these rules will help clear up some of the most common issues I’ve seen in student writing. Numbers can be as easy as one, two, three. If you find yourself writing a science or an econometrics paper, you may have to use way more numbers than you would otherwise, and you will need to make sure you are following the guidelines in your field. Generally, though, these five suggestions are good to keep in mind.

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When to Spell Out Numbers in Writing: Guide and Examples

#scribendiinc

The Rules for Writing Numbers in English 

You may have noticed a theme when it comes to the English language: most rules are not standardized. This (somewhat frustrating) fact is especially true when it comes to spelling out numbers. Should you write them out in words or leave them as numerals? To write numbers properly, you will also need to identify potential differences between major style guides (such as MLA , APA , and Chicago , to name a few) because these guides often outline different rules for using numbers in writing.

To make it easier, let's use an example. Say you're working on a paper evaluating the importance of the local public library in your community. The document will make use of small numbers, large numbers, decades, and statistics. Each type of number may follow a different rule.

Thankfully, when using numbers in writing, you can count on a few conventions that apply to most situations; just be sure to consult your specific style guide if one has been assigned. If you don't have time to review each number yourself, a professional editor or proofreader can ensure that your numbers are written correctly.

Writing Small and Large Numbers

A simple rule for using numbers in writing is that small numbers ranging from one to ten (or one to nine, depending on the style guide) should generally be spelled out. Larger numbers (i.e., above ten) are written as numerals.

For example, instead of writing "It cost ten-thousand four-hundred and sixteen dollars to renovate the local library," you would write, "It cost $10,416 to renovate the local library."

The reason for this is relatively intuitive. Writing out large numbers not only wastes space but could also be a major distraction to your readers.

Beginning a Sentence with a Number

Here is a rule that you can truly rely on: always spell out numbers when they begin a sentence, no matter how large or small they may be.

Incorrect: 15 new fiction novels were on display.

Correct: Fifteen new fiction novels were on display.

If the number is large and you want to avoid writing it all out, rearrange the sentence so that the number no longer comes first.

Revised: There were 15 new fiction novels on display.

Whole Numbers vs. Decimals

Another important factor to consider is whether you are working with a whole number or a decimal. Decimals are always written as numerals for clarity and accuracy.

To revisit our library example, perhaps circulation statistics improved in 2015. If a number falls in the range of one to ten and is not a whole number, it should be written as a numeral.

Incorrect: The circulation of library materials increased by four point five percent in 2015.

Correct: The circulation of library materials increased by 4.5% in 2015.

Paired Numbers (Two Numbers in a Row)

When two numbers come next to each other in a sentence, be sure to spell out one of these numbers. The main purpose of this rule is to avoid confusing the reader.

Incorrect: There were 12 4-year-old children waiting for the librarian to begin story time.

Correct: There were 12 four-year-old children waiting for the librarian to begin story time.

Correct: There were twelve 4-year-old children waiting for the librarian to begin story time.

Decades and Centuries

Decades or centuries are usually spelled out, especially if the writing is formal.

Incorrect: The library was built in the '50s.

Correct: The library was built in the fifties.

If you are referring to a specific year (e.g., 1955), use the numeral.

Consistency Is Key When Using Numbers in Your Writing

Always strive for consistency, even if it overrides a previous rule. For example, if your document uses numbers frequently, it is more appropriate for all numbers to remain as numerals to ensure that usage is uniform throughout. Similarly, if a single sentence combines small and large numbers, make sure that all the numbers are either spelled out or written as numerals.

Incorrect: The library acquired five new mystery novels, 12 new desktop computers, and 17 new periodicals.

Correct: The library acquired 5 new mystery novels, 12 new desktop computers, and 17 new periodicals.

Style Guides May Have Slightly Different Rules for Writing Numbers in Words

Let's complicate things a bit, shall we?

If your work must follow the rules of a specific style guide, understand that various guides all have rules for spelling out numbers that may differ slightly from the rules listed above. For example, MLA style indicates that writers may spell out numbers if they are not used too frequently in the document and can be represented with one or two words (e.g., twenty-four, one hundred, three thousand ). APA style advises that common fractions (e.g., two-thirds ) be expressed as words. A number of specific rules for spelling out numbers are outlined in Section 9.1 of the Chicago Manual of Style.

Your ultimate authority will always be a style guide, but in the absence of one, following the rules outlined above will help you stay consistent in your use of numbers in writing.

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Writing academically: Numbers

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When using numbers in academic writing you need to decide if it’s more appropriate to use a numeral (e.g. 9) or to write the number in words (e.g. nine). It’s worth checking to see if your department has specific advice on this matter, because individual approaches do vary. In the absence of specific advice, here is some general guidance on the matter:

Basic numbers

• Numbers  up to nine  should always be written in  words,  anything higher than nine can be written in numerals. Alternatively, some guides suggest that if you can write the number in two words or fewer then use words rather than numerals. If you are going to take this approach then you should include a hyphen when writing numbers with two words, e.g. twenty-seven.
• For larger numbers, it is acceptable to use either numerals or words depending on context (e.g. a thousand people/1,000 people), but you should always use numerals in technical writing, e.g. 200,000 km. For less precise larger numbers, the written form is better (e.g. several thousand).

Measurements and decimals/fractions

• Use numerals for units of measurement or time, e.g. 500 km, 10 minutes.
• Always use numerals for decimals and fractions (e.g. 0.5 cm) unless the figures are vague (e.g. around half of the population).
• Units of measurement that modify a noun should be hyphenated, e.g. a 3-year-old child.

Percentages

• If you have expressed the number in words then follow the number by the word 'percent'. e.g. six percent.
• If you have expressed the number as a numeral then follow the number with the symbol '%'. e.g. 24%.

Dates, money and time

• Always use numerals for dates, e.g Monday 4 April, 2016.
• Use numerals for money (e.g. His pocket money was exactly £1.00 per week) unless the amounts are vague (e.g. He earned well over a million last year).
• Use numerals for indicating the precise time (e.g. 08:00), or words if the times indicated are vague (e.g. around eight o’clock). 

Combining numbers

• If you need to combine two numbers that run together then use words for the shorter number and numerals for the longer number, e.g. a tower of 1000 ten-pence pieces. 

Starting sentences with numbers

• Avoid starting a sentence with a numeral. Either write the number in words or rearrange your sentence. For example, “Three hundred and sixty-five days make one year” could become “There are 365 days in a year”. If you start a sentence with a year, write “The year” first e.g. “The year 1066 saw one of the most famous battles in English history”.
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In an essay, when do you spell out numbers and when do you use numerals?

According to APA Style, you should normally use numerals for the numbers 10 and above. You should use words to express numbers below 10 (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine).

Note, however, that APA lists a wide variety of exceptions. For instance, numbers that appear right before a unit of measurement should be expressed as numerals, regardless of where they fall, before or after 10. Example: Give him 5 cups of soup.

The APA also addresses this question directly in this webpage .

The sections in APA that address numbers are 6.32-6.39 in the 7th edition of the Publication Manual.

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Numerals vs. Words for Numbers

1. Spell out single-digit numbers from zero to nine, but use words instead of figures at the start of a sentence.

• Farley made just three runs in the match.
• The station launched 113 rockets this year.
• One hundred thirteen deer live in this forest.

2. Use numerals with abbreviated units of measurement.

• This mushroom weighs 7 kg .

3. Prefer cardinal to ordinal numbers in dates.

• The cure was found on July 7 th , 2020 .

4. Use numerals for years, except at the start of a sentence.

• The Space Age began in 1957 .
• Nineteen fifty-seven marked the start of the Space Age.

5. Decades and centuries may be written in words or numerals.

• the roaring twenties/’20s
• the nineteenth/19th century

6. To emphasize the exact time or with a.m. and p.m. , use numerals. When the exact time is not important, or with o’clock , you may use either words or numerals.

• The train leaves at 1900 hours .
• School starts at 10 a.m.
• Farley was abducted by aliens at 11/eleven o’clock last night.
• He reappeared at twelve thirty / half past twelve .

7. Hyphenate simple fractions ( a two-thirds majority ), but use figures for decimals ( 4.023 ) and mixed fractions ( 7¼ feet long ).

8. For amounts of money, follow the general rule. Note that some style manuals (e.g., the AP Stylebook ) recommend always using numerals.

• Farley owes me seven euros . Spell out numbers lower than 10.
• This laptop costs 683 dollars .

Numerals or words for numbers?

The general rule is to spell out numbers from zero to nine, and use numerals for numbers from 10 onward. Exceptions exist—for example, words instead of figures are used at the start of a sentence. The different style manuals also have their own specific guidelines about spelling out numbers versus writing them as figures (or numerals).

General rules

1. Spell out single-digit numbers (from zero to nine) , and use numerals for others.

• Only eight students opted to study philosophy this year.
• We have received 314 applications so far.
• The two players scored two goals each.
• The first batsman made 42 runs, and the second one made 11 .

2. Spell out numbers that begin a sentence .

• Three hundred fourteen people have applied so far for this position.
• Forty-two runs will not be enough for us to win the match.

3. To aid with readability, hyphenate two-digit numbers when spelling them out.

• Seventy-seven people voted for the new candidate.
• Three thousand twenty-two people turned up at the party.

4. Follow the rules listed above for whole numbers used in combination with million , billion , trillion , and so on.

• This planet is home to nine billion human beings.
• We have received 10 million applications so far.
• More than 345 million residents took the survey.

5. To improve clarity, skip the and in numbers such as 7,543 when spelling them out.

• Seven thousand five hundred and forty-three citizens were counted in this year’s census.
• Four hundred and fourteen users liked this post.
• Three hundred forty-seven and thirty-three people, respectively, were included from the two districts. Better style than three hundred and forty-seven and thirty-three .

6. Maintain consistency in using numerals or words within a sentence. If any of the numbers within one category is greater than nine, use numerals for all numbers within that category.

• The first batsman made 42 runs, and the second one made only 4 .
• For breakfast today, I ate 14 apples and 3 oranges.

However, if the only reason you use words instead of numerals is because the number is at the start of a sentence, you can use numerals for the following numbers even if they are of the same category.

• Forty-two runs mayn’t be enough for us to win the match, but 342 might be.
• Four hundred three of 500 students graduated, 91 failed, and 6 dropped out.

Don’t be afraid to reword to improve readability.

• To win the match, we should score 342 runs instead of 42 .
• Of 500 students, 403 graduated, 91 failed, and 9 dropped out.

Exceptions: Chicago

The Chicago Manual of Style specifies some exceptions to the general rules above.

1. Spell out whole numbers from zero to one hundred (instead of only those from zero to nine).

• The first batsman made forty-two runs, and the second one made eleven .
• For breakfast today, Rita ate fourteen caterpillars and three centipedes.
• We have received seven applications so far.

2. Also spell out whole numbers followed by hundred , thousand , or hundred thousand .

• Lulu hadn’t expected seven hundred people to turn up at the party.
• About sixty-seven thousand citizens voted today.
• Did you know this stadium could hold two hundred thousand people?

Use numerals as usual for other numbers greater than one hundred.

• Lulu hadn’t expected 710 people to turn up at the party.
• A total of 67,413 citizens voted today.
• Did you know that 210,619 people watched the game today?

Remember to spell out numbers that begin a sentence.

• Sixty-seven thousand four hundred thirteen citizens voted today.

If this feels clunky, reword.

• In all, 67,413 citizens voted today.

Exceptions: AP style

The AP Stylebook suggests using numerals with million , billion , etc. (except at the start of a sentence).

• More than 3 billion people have watched this video.
• We have 17 million subscribers.
• Tumkin earned 173 million dollars last year.

Ordinal numbers

Add st , nd , rd , and th as appropriate to create ordinal numbers (which indicate the position of something in a sequence). The general rules about using words or numerals apply to ordinal numbers as well (including the exceptions in Chicago style ).

• Poco is fifth in line to the throne. Spell out numbers from zero to nine.
• The 45th house on this street is listed for rent. Use numerals for numbers greater than nine.
• The 500th customer wins a surprise gift.
• The 14,423rd ticket won the lottery.
• Thirteenth place isn’t so bad! Spell out numbers at the start of a sentence.

Most style manuals recommend displaying the letters in ordinal numbers as regular text rather than superscripts (to ensure uniform presentation across fonts.)

• Greece is the 33 rd / 33rd country Tumkin has visited.

Measurement

With units of measurement (including SI units), use numerals, especially when writing in a technical context. In particular, always use numerals with abbreviated units.

• The nearest airport is 8 km away.
• The creature’s wings measure 5 cm exactly.
• Rita’s lap time: 343 s

In nontechnical writing, treat quantities such as distances, time periods, and lengths based on the general rule .

• In eight minutes , the bell will ring. Spell out numbers up to nine.
• I live 15 miles away from here. Use figures for numbers 10 and greater (except in Chicago style ).
• Unfortunately, I am only four feet ten . More informal: four foot ten or four ten
• I need 10 cardboard boxes, each at least two feet wide.

Dates: Month and day

In dates , skip the ordinal number ( May 5 instead of May 5th or May 5 th ), and use a numeral for the day.

• Farley was born in Port Louis on May 5, 1985 .
• Maya’s book will become available in bookstores across the country on January 15 .

When writing as it would be read aloud (for example, in creative writing), follow the general rules .

• Farley was born on the fifth of May in 1985 . Use words instead of numerals for single-digit numbers.
• The mill burned down on the 15th of January 1973 . or The mill burned down on the fifteenth of January 1973 . Use numerals for numbers from 10 onwards, except in Chicago style .

British style generally follows the day-month -year date format, while Americans use month-day -year. Dates written in sentences also read differently.

• British: Tumkin landed in Mauritius on 23 May 2021 . Day followed by month; no comma needed.
• American: The pandemic ended on September 30, 2020 . Month followed by day; separate day and year with a comma .

Dates: Years

Write years in numerals, but spell out the year if it starts a sentence.

• My father was born in 1960 . That was also the year his father died.
• When I look back, I realize that 1999 was the year I grew up.
• Nineteen sixty was the year my father was born and also the year his father died.
• Nineteen ninety-nine was the year I grew up.

Abbreviations of years take an apostrophe (not an opening quotation mark ).

• He was born in ’65 .
• We were the class of ’99 .
• It was the summer of ’69 .

Decades can be written in words or numerals.

• fashions of the 1970s
• the roaring ’20s
• the music of the sixties

In names of decades and centuries , an apostrophe may or may not be placed before the s .

• the 1600s or the 1600’s

Note that in most styles (including Chicago , APA , and AP ), the apostrophe is omitted.

Names of centuries can either be spelled out or referred to using numerals. Do not capitalize .

• We are people of the twenty-first century. Note the hyphen and lack of capitalization.
• I have signed up for a course on seventeenth-century philosophy.
• She lived and died in the 20th century.

Rules for how to write centuries vary across style manuals. The Chicago Manual of Style and the MLA Handbook recommend spelling out the names of centuries.

• The fifth century was a time of political instability in Eurasia.
• The period from the twentieth to the twenty-seventh century is called the Space Age.
• People in the ninth century must have thought they lived in modern times.
• The 18th century was a time of conquest and revolution.

Use numerals to emphasize exact times on the clock face.

• It was 2 p.m. when I got home.
• The train leaves at 10:13 a.m.

With o’clock , you may use either words or numerals.

• It was two o’clock in the afternoon when I got home. Chicago recommends using words instead of numerals with o’clock .
• Farley’s alarm rang at 5 o’clock . In AP style, use numerals.

You can also spell out quarter and half hours in text and use words for the numbers.

• The space train leaves at half past four . or The space train leaves at four thirty .
• Last orders are at a quarter to eleven . The article a here is optional. or Last orders are at ten forty-five .
• She left work at a quarter past six today. or She left work at six fifteen .

Noon and midnight are usually referred to as such instead of as 12 noon and 12 midnight .

• Will you be here by noon ?
• It was already midnight , but the party had barely started.

Stay consistent in referring to hours and minutes within a category.

• Poor: The hoverbus leaves at a quarter to one , 2:30 , and 4 o’clock every day.
• Better: The hoverbus leaves at a quarter to one , half past two , and four o’clock every day.
• Best: The hoverbus leaves at 1:45 , 2:30 , and 4:00 p.m. every day. Use numerals when exact times are important.

When speaking of time using the 24-hour system , use numerals. A colon appears between the hours and minutes only if the word “hours” is not used.

• The train leaves at 1800 hours. “Eighteen hundred hours” in speech.
• The train leaves at 18:00 . Read aloud as “eighteen hundred.”
• The Durandians landed at 1635 hours on July 11, 2073.
• The Durandians landed at 16:35 on July 11, 2073. Read simply as “sixteen thirty-five.”

With a.m. , p.m. , and the 24-hour system, time markers like in the morning or at night are redundant.

• Poco awoke at 6 a.m. in the morning today. The use of “ a.m. ” already indicates it was morning.
• My flight leaves at 1400 hours in the afternoon . It can’t be “1400 hours” at any time but the afternoon.

Express decimal fractions in numerals.

• In 2015, the country saw 1.15 boys born per girl. Read aloud as “one point one five.”
• The mean of this sample is 2.83 .

When the fraction is less than one, a zero is normally inserted before the decimal point.

• In 2015, the country saw 0.97 girls born per boy.

All quantities other than 1 are considered plural, even those less than 1.

• On average, each class loses 0.6 student s per semester.
• The can loses 3.6 unit s of air per year.

Spell out simple fractions . Such fractions are usually hyphenated to improve readability.

• I have graded three-fifths of the papers. Note the s : three fifth s .
• In response to the pay cut, one-third of the workers have gone on strike. We are referring to a third of the total, so the third is singular.
• For this bill to pass, we require a two-thirds majority.

For mixed or improper fractions, use numerals.

• We need an envelope at least 4¼ inches long.
• Maya grew up to be only 4 feet 9½ inches tall, which meant she couldn’t be an astronaut.
• I am told that 22/7 is merely an approximation of pi.

Percentages

To express a percentage , use numerals, except at the start of a sentence.

• Overall attendance was 81 percent this semester.
• Only 20% of the participants in this study were given a placebo.
• Twenty percent of votes remain uncounted. Use words instead of numerals at the start of a sentence.

If the percentage contains digits after the decimal point, avoid using it at the start of a sentence.

• Poor: 20.5 percent of the total votes remain uncounted.
• Better: Of the total votes, 20.5 percent remain uncounted.

Which is correct: percent , per cent , or % ?

Percent is more common in American English and per cent in British. The symbol (%) is used more often in technical copy than in business or other writing, and is preferred in tables, charts, and graphs.

No space is left between the numeral and the symbol %, except in scientific and technical publications that follow SI style.

Spell out amounts of less than 10, and use numerals for the rest. Also remember to use words instead of numerals if the amount appears at the start of a sentence.

• Anita lent me five dollars for cab fare.
• Would you believe this cost only 42 dollars ?
• I would never pay 10 million for a condo.
• Is two million too much to spend on a wedding?

Chicago’s exceptions apply here as well.

The AP Stylebook suggests always using numerals with million , billion , etc., and with units of money.

• At 3 million , it is not a large population.
• This skirt costs just 6 dollars .

Numbers that follow nouns to refer to things in a series are always written as numerals.

• Chapter 2 the second chapter of a series of chapters
• Experiment 3

Usage guide

Whether to use numerals or words is a matter of style rather than grammar . What’s important is to stay consistent within a document. A style manual can help you do this. Mixing styles (e.g., writing percent in one sentence and % in the next) can make your thesis, report, or presentation look messy and unprofessional. If you don’t have a style guide, consider creating your own style sheet from the guidelines outlined above. Finally, remember that consistency and common sense are more important than any rules and exceptions. In short, break a style rule if you must, to improve readability.

Share this article

Use words instead of numerals for single-digit numbers.

In academic and business writing, use words instead of numerals at the start of a sentence.

Hyphenate two-digit numbers to improve clarity.

Use numerals with abbreviated units of measurement.

Both styles are fine: the first is the American style of writing dates, and the second is British.

Use numerals instead of words to write names of years (except at the start of a sentence).

Names of centuries may be written either in words or in numerals. Stay consistent in usage within a document.

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Opinion Guest Essay

How Project 2025 Would Change the Country

Credit... Photo illustration by Stephanie Ross

Supported by

By Steven Rattner

Graphics by Taylor Maggiacomo

Mr. Rattner is a contributing Opinion writer. He served as counselor to the Treasury secretary in the Obama administration.

• Sept. 9, 2024

When Donald Trump takes the debate stage on Tuesday, he will doubtless again try to disavow Project 2025, the radically conservative blueprint spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation for the next Republican administration.

We shouldn’t let him.

Seventy-eight percent of the contributors to the effort were members of his last administration and many of them are likely appointees to his next team if he’s re-elected. As the old Washington saying goes, “personnel is policy.”

The group of authors includes Russell Vought, who headed the Office of Management and Budget; Chris Miller, one of Mr. Trump’s acting defense secretaries; Ken Cucinelli, Mr. Trump’s deputy secretary of homeland security; and Peter Navarro, a longtime Trump adviser who was closely involved in the ex-president’s attempt to overturn the election.

We’ve seen this movie before. In 2016, ahead of Mr. Trump’s first term, the Heritage Foundation released the seventh edition of its “Mandate for Leadership.” One year into his presidency, Mr. Trump had embraced 64 percent of its policy recommendations, ranging from leaving the Paris climate accord to raising military spending to increasing drilling offshore and on federal lands.

Based on Mr. Trump’s campaign utterances and Project 2025’s proposals, expect far more radical actions from a second Trump presidency. Relying on analysis by the Center for American Progress and others, below are eight examples of how Project 2025’s proposals could alter American life.

Raise Income Taxes on Those Earning Less

Project 2025’s tax system would greatly benefit the wealthy

The 2025 plan would condense seven tax brackets into just two, leading to higher tax rates for lower-income Americans and lower rates for the rich.

How tax rates would change

For a married couple filing jointly

Current marginal tax rates

P r oject 2025 marginal tax rates

Household Income

How the amount of tax paid would change

Average tax liability for a married couple with two children, filing jointly

–$2,062

–$10,457

–$14,417

Current marginal

P r oject 2025

marginal tax rates

Household income

Tax increases

Millions of people would be at risk of losing health care coverage if there are lifetime Medicaid caps

Almost 95 million Americans were enrolled in Medicaid in 2021. If lifetime caps are implemented, over 19 million people, or 5% of the country’s population, would be at risk of losing their health care coverage.

Head Start bridges the gap in child care in rural counties

Share of child care centers that are Head Start grantees

Thousands of teachers would be at risk of losing their jobs if Title I were eliminated

Title I provides federal funding to low-income public schools. Without it, the entire country could lose around 6% of its teacher work force, affecting over 2.8 million students.

Student loan payments would balloon under Project 2025

Payments per month would increase substantially for new loans compared with Biden’s SAVE Plan, the current income-driven loan repayment plan.

Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act would slow progress on lowering carbon emissions

Clean energy funding and tax credits would be eliminated and multiple emissions regulations would be reversed if the I.R.A was repealed.

Project 2025 would ban America’s most common method of abortion

Medication abortions quickly became the most common method of abortions after the F.D.A. approved mifepristone and misoprostol in 2000.

Project 2025 would multiply the number of political appointees in federal agencies

By reclassifying policy-related positions to remove civil service protections and make employees easier to fire, the president’s influence over federal agencies would expand, though the exact number of positions that would be affected is unclear.

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