Numerically Speaking

[kaku]

Numerical Etiquette



I did a search but was unable to find anything on this topic so please forgive me if I’m airing dirty laundry.



How does one show numbers within the body of a story?



For example: Room 361 or a phone number (222) 222-2222.



Thank you for your assistance.

[Jamesaritchie]

Most often, you just write them down. "Detective Summers went to room 361 and banged on the door."

[Bufty]

But put them in full if it's in dialogue.

[Andrew Jameson]

Citation: Strunk and White, second edition.
Numerals. Do not spell out dates or other serial numbers. Write them in figures or in Roman notation, as may be appropriate.
August 9, 1968
Rule 3
Chapter XII
352nd Infantry

Exception: When they occur in speech, most dates and numbers are best spelled out.
"I arrived home on August ninth."
In the year 1970, I turned twenty-one."
I shall read Chapter Twelve."
Works for me.

[scribbler1382]

How does one show numbers within the body of a story?

For example: Room 361 or a phone number (222) 222-2222.


I do it pretty much the way you just did it. The exception might be if you wanted a paragraph/sentence to start with the number. In which case I'd use something like: Fifty-four Kaku Road was where I found him. If writing out the number at the start of a sentence looks or sounds weird, rewrite the sentence so the number comes later: I found him at 54 Kaku Road.

The accepted norm of when to spell numbers out as words in text varies on what source you use. The Chicago Manual of Style says to spell out all words from one to a hundred, whereas the journalistic style guides say to just spell out numbers one through nine.

Personally, I use the journalistic style as a guide, but veer from it when I deem it necessary.

[Sunny7L]

I also use the journalistic (AP) style but I've conformed to literature (CMS) standards when necessary because there are differences, mainly in punctuation.

Anyway, I've wondered about numbers as well and I'm still unclear as to rather or not you should spell them out, specifically 1-9, for figures/dimensions -- e.g. "9 apples" or "nine apples" -- I'm assuming that 10+ can be represented by the digits but there are some websites that suggest different (only 3-digit numbers, etc.). Also, in general, should you spell out numbers whenever mentioned, unless a large figure (or start of a sentence)?

I've been spelling it out and, being trained as a journalist, it looks unnatural. :)

[Sunny7L]

OK, you all mentioned the 1-9 thing. :) So I guess I'll stick to what I was doing. The speech rule was also helpful, I'll try checking out that book (Strunk and White) as well as research a little more online.

The execptions seem to be addresses and proper names/titles.

[Andrew Jameson]

Actually, if you haven't seen it before, Strunk and White is worthwhile to read cover to cover. It's a remarkably short book, and explains all sorts of grammar and style conventions with about three sentences and two examples each.

I'm talking about Strunk and White's Elements of Style (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/020530902X/104-2160446-6555910?v=glance), by the way, just to be clear. It's been around forever, so you could easily pick up an earlier edition from a used bookstore for a couple bucks.

[Jamesaritchie]

When to spell out numbers is actually a fairly complicated thing, and depends on a host of rules, inclduing the kind of writing you're doing. Books, letters, formal, and informal writng all have a set of "rules" covering numbers.

Generally speaking, numbers should be spelled out in dialogue because it's impossible to say a number. We say words, not numbers.

A number is always spelled out if it begins a sentence. Two numbers expressing different things should not be side by side in a sentence. One should be spelled out. Wrong: "In 1951, 15 states ratified the law." Right: "In 1951, fifteen states ratified the law."

It's actually fine to spell out any number that can be expressed in one or two words, no matter how large it is, as in "The court awarded him two million dollars in punitive damages." But you would write "The court awarded him $2,097,321.50 in punitive damages" because it can't be spelled out in one or two words. Or you could simply write, "The court awarded him more than two million dollars in punitive damages."

Hard and fast rules where numbers are concerned depend on the type of writing, and on in-house rules. In journalism, we were taught "When in doubt, spell it out." But this works well only when you've had some experience.

Best to find a comprehensive guide that defines all the rules.

On and on.

[Tish Davidson]

What are the rules for time? ten o'clock in the morning? 10 a.m.? 10:00 a.m.?