Sometimes in my substitute teaching jobs they ask me to help out in Math classes. I say, Sure! But often times I’m just there to keep the students on task: I’m not a Math person. But recently I was working with a student and they asked me, So when do you write out the numbers with letters instead of numbers as just numbers? Great question! It got me thinking: do I even know when to write out numbers? So, here’s the latest blog post, and hopefully we all learn a little something together.
This I do know: even in Math, the numbers are sometimes written out with letters. Think back to those word problems you loved/hated in school. Jasleen has five stickers, but only wants to keep two. Karan has one sticker, but would like three more. How can Jasleen and Karan work together so everyone has stickers? Ok, so maybe they weren’t questions like that, but you know what I’m getting at. The reason the question came up while I was teaching was that the teacher asked the students to write out an equation how you would say it out loud. Hun. Interesting! So, Math does require some spelling.
But that doesn’t get us any closer to know how or when to spell out numbers. My memory has me guessing that if a number is 10 or under, write it out. And in fact, yes. In the APA Style Guide, it says to write out (most of the time) numbers under 10. Yet as with most rules, there are exceptions to this APA rule (I haven’t mentioned MLA yet, so stay tuned). If a number under 10 is abstract, part of a table, or a math figure, keep it as a number. Ok. We can do that. Also, APA says to keep using numerals for measurements, time or exact sums of money. There are a few more exceptions on that list, but if you’re curious you can dig for those yourself.
In that case, APA is saying:
- I can make it for 8:00am is okay.
- The study of owls included 6 snowy owls is okay
- He had $4 in his hand is okay.
- She added 1.5 gallons to the car is okay.
- There are 2% more birds in the park this year is okay.
I think that APA is a widely used style guide, but I think that the MLA is more my speed. It’s what I’m most comfortable with, or at least what I used the most in my English Lit degree. What I remember for MLA is to be consistent, which I like. So if you’re writing out a few numbers, write them all out (He had six pens, two erasers, and three crayons.). But I think the basic rule for writing out numbers for MLA is to write out numbers that are one or two words long. The other rule is to write out numbers that start a sentence (Twenty-three students went on the field trip yesterday.). When it comes to time, MLA standards say that both numbers or words are acceptable (nine o’clock or 9:00). And, if you are using facts and figures, keep it to numbers, not words. And, as with every rule, there are always exceptions: using numbers as identifiers is correct.
MLA is saying:
- He ran for eight minutes is okay.
- She turned fourteen yesterday is okay.
- He raised $5,976 for charity by reading is okay.
- Henry VIII was definitely memorable is okay.
- We left off reading at chapter 7, page 87 is okay.
- She ended up making the company four billion OR 4 billion is okay.
Just for some fun, what does the Chicago Manual of Style have to say about numbers? Well, they ask that you spell out numbers under 100, then the round numbers after that (one thousand, two hundred thousand, one million, one billion). One interesting thing about the Chicago style is that they like mixing and matching when it helps to add clarity. For example, 10 six-inch pipes, 7 two-foot boards.
So when it comes to writing out numbers, check your style guides. But it seems like the consensus is to write out numbers under 10. And when it helps to add clarity to your writing, mix and match. I’d add, be sure to spell out numbers that start your sentences. As with all writing, a style guide is your friend, so if you are writing to a specific audience, double check the style guide so that your writing looks thoughtful and carefully edited.
Happy writing!
Feature photo by Volkan Olmez on Unsplash