Numbers can cause a multitude of problems in writing, but
there are a few rules that will help you out.
The first, and most important rule, is consistency especially
within the same category. Whichever method you use when putting numbers in your
writing, it should be the same method throughout your article, story or novel.
The second rule is, as always, study the publication (or another work from the
same publisher) that you are writing for and duplicate the accepted style.
Some common
rules to follow are:
§ Spell smaller numbers out, numbers
with a value of less than twenty are often spelled out (one, two, fifteen,
nineteen, etc) and use a numeral (22, 44, 101, etc) for anything larger. Note
that MLA (Modern Language Association) generally says to spell out numbers less
than ten.
§ If the number is part of a name, such
as William III, use the
numeral/symbol instead of William the
third. Also use the third house on
the right instead of the 3rd
house on the right.
§ Spell out time periods and centuries
like the seventies or the twentieth century. If you are using
incomplete numerals for the decade, you can use an apostrophe before the number
but NOT between the number and the “s”, ‘70s.
§ Commas are used as separators for large
numbers, usually anything 1,000 and above.
Large, approximate numbers, can be a combination of numerals and spelled
out such as 20-million, but an exact
number would be all numerals like 23,434,999.
Money is printed like $34.56, the
period is used as a decimal point to separate the cents.
§ If you are writing a recipe, use
numbers in the measurements like 3 cups
of flour and 1 ½ tablespoon of butter. When writing fractions in prose, spell them
out just like you say them: one-half,
two-thirds, three-halves, etc. And except for the most informal notes, use the
word percent (25 percent) instead of
the symbol 25%.
§ Never begin a sentence with a numeral,
spell it out if you can’t change the order. Use Twenty-one years ago I got married or I got married 21 years ago.
Writing Exercise: You are sitting in the corner of a restaurant
during a busy lunch hour. Describe the action that you see from your vantage
point. Write it as if you are watching a movie so that your readers will SEE
the action as you do.
Writing Prompt: Pick up
the closest magazine or newspaper, study the first picture you come across.
Write a three-sentence story based on that picture.
