I vaguely remember a rule regarding expressing numbers in a story, and haven't been able to remember the details. So when do you express a number as 20 or twenty?
Thanks for the assistance
I vaguely remember a rule regarding expressing numbers in a story, and haven't been able to remember the details. So when do you express a number as 20 or twenty?
Thanks for the assistance
Not a hard and fast rule but 1-10 are normally one-ten. Twenty on-wards 20. 11-19 are a gray area and more personal preference than anything. The exception may be 'round' numbers like one hundred or a thousand. I've never come across a singular rule set that works for all situations. Nor does this account for things such as a score or a gross.
grammarbook.com provides an answer - there is no rule, and a writer should be consistent in the manner they choose to write numbers.
https://www.grammarbook.com/numbers/numbers.asp
It goes on to reference 2 style guides and provide guidelines (called rules) as to commonly used styles of writing numbers.
I'm gonna be honest... I never learned any rules about this. I just feel like, if I use numbers in my writing, it's like I'm writing a text message on a phone. Same reason I write "Okay" instead of "OK" or just including a thumbs-up emoji...
I do limit it to numbers that can be expressed by two words, though. Like "twenty-one" or "two hundred" is fine. But "Four hundred twenty-two thousand seven hundred forty-two" is just... ridiculous to make anyone read.
I do limit it to numbers that can be expressed by two words
That means expressing pi as 'three point' ;-)
AJ
That means expressing pi as 'three point' ;-)
A three point pie is also known as a hamantash.
Usually has a poppy seed or prune filling.
Eaten during Purim...
pi
The number ฯ is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, approximately equal to 3.14159. The number ฯ appears in many formulae across mathematics and physics. Wikipedia
"What is the 1000000 digits of pi?
3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510 etc. Before you click remember - it's a byte a digit! The first 1000000 decimal places contain: 99959 0s, 99758 1s, 100026 2s, 100229 3s, 100230 4s, 100359 5s, 99548 6s, 99800 7s, 99985 8s and 100106 9s. There's one '3' before the decimal point..."
I get confused also. In general, I write out the numbers 1-20 because I can express the value as a single word.
For 21 and higher I get lazy. Sometimes I write out numbers up to 100 and other times I use the numeric characters. Over 100 I am about 50-50 depending on my mood and do I want to emphasize the numeric value.
grammarbook.com indicates all numbers written out using 2 words should be hyphenated. I hyphenate when it seems appropriate for understanding.
I've seen a couple of different 'rules', but they weren't consistent. You can pick a style guide and use that if you're feeling pedantic, but you can also just make your own choice and stick with it. I've settled on spelling out numbers less than 100, but that's just me.
Basically, style guides are fun and all that, but they are not the rule of law, even if some grammar freaks want to treat them that way. In the end the only thing that really matters is if you can communicate your ideas with the tone and feeling that you're striving for. If such communication takes place, you got it right.
There are no grammar rules for it. Style guides suggest how it should be done for consistency. Here's a link to a copy editor explaining how the Chicago Manual of Style suggests it:
https://danieljtortora.com/blog/spelling-out-numbers-chicago-manual
Note that the copy editor says CMoS has a guideline but also has an alternative one. He said the alternative one should be used for things like scientific writing. Anyway, your answer should be answered. Now you have to decide if that's the way you want to do it.
I try to always spell out numbers in dialog.
Narrative writing I use the US Army "style guide" c.1980 to 2015, more or less.
So I write M16A2, or 3/161st Infantry, or M2HB Browning .50 caliber machine-gun. But it should be the Third Army. Nicknames are written, so the US 1st Infantry Division's nickname is the Big Red One. Corps use Roman Numerals: XVIII Airborne Corps.
An address would 221b Baker Street, but it is often 4567 Second Avenue.
If my characters use the US Army/NATO phonetic alphabet and numerics, such as Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog, Easy, Fox; or NATO Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot...
Won (1) Twoo (2) Tree (3) Fow-ah (4) Fife (5)...
I try to always spell out numbers in dialog.
I would write:
"Call 911," he shouted.
or
"Call 9-1-1," he shouted.
I would not write:
"Call nine one one," he shouted.
I try to always spell out numbers in dialog.
Q. In a work of fiction, should all numbers be spelled out in dialogue?
A. Spell out numbers in dialogue whenever it can be done without awkwardness. Years, for example, are better rendered as numerals. For more guidance, see CMOS 13.44.