The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College The Grammar Business Part Three 2. Spelling Out Numbers

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 2 When do you write a number using a figure e.g. 5? using letters e.g. ‘five’

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 3 The answer is it depends what sort of thing you’re writing and where you’re writing it

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 4 In some work places All numbers are written as figures If this is the convention where you work, you should stick to it

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 5 In newspapers You may find some inconsistency The editor may put ‘five’ in one paragraph and ‘5’ in the next The decision may be taken on the basis of available space

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 6 In essays or reports First check the conventions of the place you work in - in case numbers are always written as numerals If unsure, go for the old rule and –write numbers of nineteen or less as words –numbers of 21 or more as numerals

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 7 Unless it is a measurement eg. 13 cm someone’s age e.g. 67 a reference to age in decades - this is always written in words e.g “She was in her eighties; he was in his nineties.” the first word of the sentence (always use letters, not numbers in this case)

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 8 And whatever you do Don’t mix numerals and letters in the same sentence e.g. “He had obtained 16 filing cabinets and seven tables.”

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 9 The reason for writing small numbers as words is probably the fact that they can easily get misread or lost 1 looks very like I or l - which can cause confusion 5 is not unlike S but double figures are much less likely to disappear

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 10 Three figure numbers are normally always written as numerals –e.g. He was paid 877 yen. –They had already sold 132 cars unless it’s an essay or story and the writer is referring to a large round number, like a thousand, ten thousand, a million etc

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 11 Numbers in addresses Are always written as numerals –22 Princes Street –377a Albert Mansions

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 12 But If section headings are numbered, in a report, for example Numbers are always used - not words The same is normally true for page numbers - page 1, page 2, page 363 etc

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 13 And If you’re numbering headings or chapters –normally an arabic number (1, 2, 3) is your first option Roman numerals are sometimes used later, if a second set is needed –i, ii, iii But modern usage favours decimal numbers for subsections –Section 1, then subsections 1.1, 1.2., etc

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 14 Spot the errors below The woman lives at seven, Smith Street. My new TV cost me three hundred and sixty-two pounds. The card is six inches high. My mother is in her 70s.

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 15 Answers The woman lives at 7, Smith Street. My new TV cost me £ The card is 6 inches high. My mother is in her seventies.

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College Well done! On to next part of course!