number writing

love2write · Sep 17, 2009

When you write numbers in a story/book (mine currently is 105 pages, 22,000 words) do you write them out (six dogs) or do you use the numeral (6 dogs)? Also with the time, are you supposed to say "eight thirty" or "8:30"?

Ken Hoss · Sep 17, 2009

love2write said:
When you write numbers in a story/book (mine currently is 105 pages, 22,000 words) do you write them out (six dogs) or do you use the numeral (6 dogs)? Also with the time, are you supposed to say "eight thirty" or "8:30"?

I have heard that in an MS, you use the written numbers, ie; six, seven-thirty, etc. The only exception I can think of is if you are using Roman numerals, I, VI, XX, etc. But, I could be wrong.

love2write · Sep 17, 2009

Okay thanks, and from what you wrote, do you write "seven thirty" or "seven-thirty" ?

Ken Hoss · Sep 17, 2009

love2write said:
Okay thanks, and from what you wrote, do you write "seven thirty" or "seven-thirty" ?

I like to use the hyphen, just the way I've always done it.

"When do you want to go?"
"I don't know. Seven-thirty?"
"Okay, seven-thirty sounds good to me."

jeseymour · Sep 18, 2009

I just went through and fixed this in my latest manuscript when I submitted it to a publisher that had guidelines that specified this. First time I ever thought that hard about it. The guidelines said to write out numbers, thirty instead of 30, except for really large numbers, I think. Like years - 1976 is okay. I misplaced the guidelines, the publisher rejected my manuscript anyway, and I can't remember precisely off the top of my head. I do recall something from my newspaper days that said sort of the same thing, that you write out any numbers below 100.

love2write · Sep 18, 2009

Okay thanks. I remember learning that in essays you should always write out the numbers, so I wasn't sure if it was the same for stories/books.

PeterL · Sep 18, 2009

Here's a page from an online style guide. I believe that time is usually written in numbers, e.g. 7:30 PM, and the one style guide that I found that mentioned hours and minutes agrees.
http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=738514

Ken Hoss · Sep 18, 2009

PeterL said:
Here's a page from an online style guide. I believe that time is usually written in numbers, e.g. 7:30 PM, and the one style guide that I found that mentioned hours and minutes agrees.
http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=738514

The site you reference is for economist. However, I did find this site which refers to English rules for writing numbers and it appears to say pretty much the same thing.

http://www.grammarbook.com/numbers/numbers.asp

And then there is this site:

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-rules-for-writing-numbers-and-numerals/

Hope this helps!

sheadakota · Sep 18, 2009

It might depend on the publishing house as well- each house has its own style and will abide accordingly.

PeterL · Sep 19, 2009

Ken Hoss said:
The site you reference is for economist. However, I did find this site which refers to English rules for writing numbers and it appears to say pretty much the same thing.

That link is to the style guide on the Economist website.

number writing

love2write

Lost in thoughts....

Ken Hoss

Storm Rising A Kelli Storm Novel

love2write

Lost in thoughts....

Ken Hoss

Storm Rising A Kelli Storm Novel

jeseymour

love2write

Lost in thoughts....

PeterL

Ken Hoss

Storm Rising A Kelli Storm Novel

sheadakota

part of the human equation

PeterL