Rules for Writing Numbers
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 write numbers in words depends on the writer and the publication.
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.
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.
Certain style guides advise spelling out numbers if it can be done 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.
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.
So, should you use digits 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., “July 12, 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 style guideline they follow. Now that you’re familiar with writing numbers, you can start writing in three … two … one.
