Forum: Author Hangout

The numbers game

Scribbler 🚫

While I'm sure the topic has arisen before, I haven't been able to search it out. (My Google-fu is the pomade to a bald man)

Numbers.

When to spell out, when to use the numbers?

Time, I tend to use numbers (10:15 AM) unless it's in the spoken conversation. ("I'll see you at quarter past ten, tomorrow.")

But, I've noticed that I tend to bounce back and forth, specially when writing the price of something.

But, where's the line?

IS there a line?

Spoken, spell it out, scenery description, use the number keys?

I think I might have known this, once, but I'm getting old...

Replies: Michael Loucks AmigaClone Scribbler The Outsider Switch Blayde

Michael Loucks 🚫
Updated:

@Scribbler

One view:

When Should I Spell Out Numbers?

And another:

Writing Numbers

AmigaClone 🚫

@Scribbler

One result I got was:

It is generally best to write out numbers from zero to one hundred in nontechnical writing. In scientific and technical writing, the prevailing style is to write out numbers under ten. While there are exceptions to these rules, your predominant concern should be expressing numbers consistently.

Large round numbers also should be written out.

Examples:

1) Author X has posted nearly ten million words.
2) Author X has posted 9,963,036 words.

Scribbler 🚫
Updated:

@Scribbler

I thank you both.

My take is that the most important thing is to stay consistent.

... nontechnical writing.

Gigglesnort... An apt description.

Replies: Switch Blayde

Switch Blayde 🚫
Updated:

@Scribbler

My take is that the most important thing is to stay consistent.

It depends on the style guide you're following. And the purpose of a style guide is consistency.

This link has information from different style guides: https://www.tckpublishing.com/when-to-write-out-numbers/

One interesting thing from the Chicago Manual of Style is:

Additionally, when two numbers need to be placed next to each other, it's best to spell out one of them (usually the smaller amount).

Example:

10 nine-inch boards
three 12-foot waves

The Outsider 🚫

@Scribbler

I almost always write out the number (twenty-five instead of 25). The exceptions for me are military unit designation (82d Airborne), and dates (September 11th).

Replies: Michael Loucks

Michael Loucks 🚫

@The Outsider

I almost always write out the number (twenty-five instead of 25). The exceptions for me are military unit designation (82d Airborne), and dates (September 11th).

I do the same. I also don't use commas for four-digit values.

Switch Blayde 🚫
Updated:

@Scribbler

Since we're talking fiction rather than other kinds of writing, this link might help: https://theeditorsblog.net/2013/01/13/numbers-in-fiction/

Note that I believe it's based on the Chicago Manual of Style (which most publishers follow some flavor of).

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Forum: Author Hangout

The numbers game

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