The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation



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Writing Numbers

Rule 1. Some authorities say that the numbers one through nine or ten should be spelled out and figures used for higher numbers. Other authorities spell out one through one hundred, plus even hundreds, thousands, and so on. The best strategy is to be consistent.
  Correct Examples: I want five copies, not ten copies.
I want 5 copies, not 10 copies.

Rule 2. Be consistent within a category. For example, if you choose numerals because one of the numbers you must deal with is greater than ten, you should use numerals for everything in that category. If you use numbers in different categories, use figures for one category and words for the other.
  Correct Examples:

 

Given the budget constraints, if all 30 history students attend the four plays, then the 7 math students will be able to attend only two plays. (Students are represented with figures; plays are represented with words.)

My 10 cats fought with their 2 cats.
My ten cats fought with their two cats.

  Incorrect Example:

 

I asked for five pencils, not 50.



Rule 3. Always spell out simple fractions and use hyphens with them.
  Examples: One-half of the pies have been eaten.
A two-thirds majority is required for that bill to pass in Congress.

Rule 4. A mixed fraction can be expressed in figures unless it is the first word of a sentence.
  Examples: We expect a 5 1/2 percent wage increase.
Five and one-half percent was the maximum allowable interest.

Rule 5. The simplest way to express large numbers is best. Round numbers are usually spelled out. Be careful to be consistent within a sentence.
  Correct: You can earn from one million to five million dollars.
  Incorrect: You can earn from one million to $5,000,000.
  Correct: You can earn from five hundred to five million dollars.
  Correct: You can earn from $5 hundred to $5 million.
  Incorrect: You can earn from $500 to $5 million.
  Incorrect: You can earn from $500 to five million dollars.

Rule 6. Write decimals in figures. Put a zero in front of a decimal unless the decimal itself begins with a zero.
  Examples: The plant grew 0.79 of a foot in one year.
The plant grew only .07 of a foot this year because of the drought.

Rule 7. When writing out large numbers of five or more digits before the decimal point, use a comma where the comma would appear in the figure format. Use the word and only where the decimal point appears in the figure format.
 

Examples:

$15,768.13: Fifteen thousand, seven hundred sixty-eight dollars and thirteen cents

$1054.21: One thousand fifty-four dollars and twenty-one cents

Note: The comma is now commonly omitted in four-digit whole numbers.


Rule 8. The following examples apply when using dates:
  Examples: The meeting is scheduled for June 30.
The meeting is scheduled for the 30th of June.
We have had tricks played on us on April 1.
The 1st of April puts some people on edge.

Rule 9. When expressing decades, you may spell them out and lowercase them.
  Example: During the eighties and nineties, the U.S. economy grew.

Rule 10. If you wish to express decades using incomplete numerals, put an apostrophe before the incomplete numeral but not between the year and the s.
  Correct: During the '80s and '90s, the U.S. economy grew.
  Incorrect: During the '80's and '90's, the U.S. economy grew.

Rule 11. You may also express decades in complete numerals. Again, don't use an apostrophe between the year and the s.
  Example: During the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. economy grew.

Rule 12. Normally, spell out the time of day in text even with half and quarter hours. With o'clock, the number is always spelled out.
  Examples: She gets up at four thirty before the baby wakes up.
The baby wakes up at five o'clock in the morning.

Rule 13. Use numerals with the time of day when exact times are being emphasized or when using A.M. or P.M.
  Examples:

Monib's flight leaves at 6:22 A.M.
Please arrive by 12:30 sharp.

She had a 7:00 P.M. deadline.


Rule 14. Use noon and midnight rather than 12:00 A.M. or 12:00 P.M.

Rule 15. Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.
  Examples: Forty-three people were injured in the train wreck.
Twenty-three of them were hospitalized.

Rule 16. Write out a number if it begins a sentence.
  Examples:

Twenty-nine people won an award for helping their communities.
That 29 people won an award for helping their communities was fantastic! OR

That twenty-nine people won an award for helping their communities was fantastic!

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