English
Guidelines for Using Number Style

• The numbers one through ten are generally written as words.  Numbers above ten are written as figures; eg., All 48 employees are distributed among the eight stores.
• All related numbers should be expressed as the largest number is expressed; eg., Only 5 of the original 32 employees now work in the eight stores.  (Numbers are related when they refer to similar items in a category within the same reference.)
• When two numbers appear consecutively and both modify the same following noun, words are used to express the smaller or less complex number; eg., Frank needs 150 ten-page coloured inserts.
• Numbers that begin sentences are written in words; eg., Fourteen options were presented to the client.  (If the number involves more than two words, however, the sentence should be written so that the number does not fall at the beginning.)
• Periods of time are generally expressed in word form.  However, figures may be used to emphasize business concepts such as discount rates, warranty periods, credit terms, loan or contract periods, and payment terms; eg., The partnership was dissolved forty years ago.  The warranty period is 3 years.
• Ages are generally expressed in word form unless the age appears immediately after a name or is expressed in exact years and months; eg., At the age of twenty-five, Samuel inherited a fortune.  At the age of 3 years and 6 months, Mary Beth could read.  Forrest Moore, 43, was named acting director.
• Round numbers are approximations and may be expressed in word or figure form; eg., About 500 (or five hundred) people attended the concert.  (Figure form is shorter and easier to comprehend.)
• Weights and measurements are expressed in figures; eg., The slab of concrete measures 6 by 18 meters.
• Simple fractions are expressed as words; complex fractions may be written either as figures or as a combination of figures and words.  Fractions used as adjectives require hyphens; eg., Over three-quarters of the class attended regularly.  The microcomputer will execute the command in 1millionth of a second.  Frederick purchased a one-third share in his uncle’s business.
• Percentages are expressed with figures that are followed by the word percent.  Percentages used as adjectives require hyphens; eg., Sherry had hoped for a 6-percent interest rate.  Over 40 percent of the residents voted against the plan.  (The percent sign (%) is used only on business forms or in statistical presentations.)
• Decimals are expressed with figures.  If a decimal expression does not contain a whole number (an integer) and does not begin with a zero, a zero should be placed before the decimal point; eg., Considerable savings will accrue if the production cost is reduced by 0.5 percent.  Jane found the measurements to be .005 centimeters off.  The actuarial charts indicate that 1.99 out of every 1000 people will die in any given year.
• Sums of money $1 or greater are expressed as figures.  If a sum is a whole dollar amount, omit the decimal and zeros (whether or not the amount appears in a sentence with additional fractional dollar amounts); eg., Harry paid $20 for the cards although the actual price was $25.50.  On the bill were items for $2.98, $6, $33.75, and $25.
• Sums less than $1 are written as figures that are followed by the word cents; eg., By waiting for sales, Richard saved 50 cents per light bulb.
• In dates, numbers that appear after the name of the month are written as cardinal figures (1, 2, 3, etc.); eg., The Graduation Committee will meet May 10.
• Dates that stand alone or appear before the name of a month are written as ordinal figures (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.); eg., On the 10th day of October and again on the 20th, we shopped for Halloween costumes.
• Figures are used when clock time is expressed with a.m. or p.m.  Omit the colon and zeros in referring to whole hours.  When exact clock time is expressed with the contraction o’clock, either figures or words may be used; eg. At three (or 3) o’clock school is finished for the day.  You can deliver the form to our office at 10 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.
• Except for the number one, house numbers are expressed as figures; eg., One Belmont Avenue; 3 Forest Street; 477 St. Davis Crescent.
• Street names containing numbers ten or lower are written entirely as words; eg., 332 Third Street.
• For street names involving numbers greater than ten, figures are used; eg., 3256 East 42 Avenue.
• If no compass direction (North, South, East, West) separates a house number from a street number, the street number is expressed in ordinal form (-nd, -rd, -th); eg., 113 23rd Street; 1425 10th Avenue.
• Telephone numbers are expressed with figures.  When used, the area code is placed in parentheses preceding the telephone number; eg., Please call Lyndy at (604) 418-5523.