NUMBER RULES NUMBER RULES OE 106 BUSINESS ENGLISH

 Spell out numbers one through ten. Use figures for numbers 11 and above.  The crocodiles ate 35 people.  There were six people about to fall in the ocean.

In a series, if any of the numbers are above ten, use figures.  On the hike up the mountain, Jake took 11 candy bars, 5 apples, and 8 bananas.

When a number is the first entry in a sentence, spell it out.  Thirty telephone poles lined our country road.

When writing exact or approximate amounts of money, use figures--do not add zeros to whole dollar amounts.  That couch sells for $  The items cost $1.17, $.45, and $2.10.  He has saved $576 for the stereo.

Temperature, size, and dimension are always written in figures.  The round window is 7 feet wide.  Because it was 5 F below zero last night, our window was frosted this morning.  The window measures 7 by 12 feet.

Type percentages in figures. Spell out the word percent.  She earned 85 percent on the CPA exam.  She saved 30 to 50 percent on each purchase.

Age should be written in words unless expressed with years, months, and/or days.  Mack is fifty-one today.  Mack’s youngest child is 2 years 4 months and 3 days old.

Use figures to express time.  Our building closes at 6 p.m.  Tomorrow’s meeting will be at 12 noon.  Today’s meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.

Write house numbers in figures except the number One.  His address is 3103 Pine Tree Lane.  They live at One Apple Street.

Spell out street, avenue, and boulevard names that carry numbers ten or below; those above ten should be expressed in figures.  The store is located on First Avenue.  Their store address is 140 South 18th Avenue.  He lives at 130 Chad Drive, Apt. 5.