Writing Lab How to Use Numbers in Writing What is

Transcript:Writing Lab How to Use Numbers in Writing What is:
Writing Lab How to Use Numbers in Writing What is a Number? A number is a mathematical idea used to count, label, and measure. Numbers can be represented by numerals or words. Numerals or figures 1/2 √5 3 π 25 XLI 101 1,492 MCM 500,000 What is a Number? Cont. Words One third Five Thirteen Forty-six Ninety-nine One hundred Twelve hundred Eight thousand Twenty thousand Three million General Rules In ordinary writing and MLA format Spell out numbers which can be expressed as one or two words (one, thirty-six, ninety-nine, one hundred, fifteen hundred, two thousand, three million). Use numerals for numbers with more than two words (2½, 101, 137, 1,275). In technical writing and APA format Spell out numbers from one to nine (one, two, three, etc.). Use numerals for 10 and above (10, 11, 12, etc.). In all contexts and formats If you must begin a sentence with a number, spell the number out. NOT: 1994 was my birth year. BUT: Nineteen ninety-four was my birth year. OR: My birth year was 1994 (preferred). There is often more than one acceptable way to write a number; once you choose a usage, stay consistent. Commas in Numbers Use commas between groups of three digits in most figures of 1,000 or more. 1,000 20,000 7,654,321 Following are some exceptions: Page and lines numbers (page 1014) Addresses (4132 Broadway) Four-digit year numbers (1999) Degrees of temperature (3071 °F) Dates For dates, use cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3), not ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd). NOT: My birthday is March 24th. BUT: My birthday is March 24. For three-part dates, you can use either of the forms below: March 3, 1847 (month-day-year) 3 March 1847 (day-month-year) If you use the month-day-year format in the middle of a sentence, place a comma after the day and the year. If you use the day-month-year format, no commas are necessary. Alexander Graham Bell was born March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Alexander Graham Bell was born 3 March 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Dates cont. Decades Decades are usually written out in lowercase letters (the twenties), unless they are part of special expressions (the Roaring Twenties). Decades can also be expressed in numerals (the 1920s, the ‘20s). Whichever form you use to express decades, be consistent. Dates cont. 2 Centuries Spell out centuries in lowercase letters: the twentieth century the mid-nineteenth century Hyphenate centuries when they are