30 hours or thirty hours?

msd · Mar 3, 2013

Do you prefer using 30 hours or thirty hours? I’m not sure what the rulebook says on the matter.

My book is a fiction novel.

Nekko · Mar 3, 2013

Rule number one: be consistent

Other than that, the rule of thumb is - Spell out numbers of one or two word/syllables e.g. one, twelve, fifteen; or those that begin a sentence - Three hundred cars fell into the abyss.
Use figure for numbers that require more than two words to spell out - He ate 107 hot dogs before he exploded.
Several in the same passage - be consistent
Back to back spell one, use digits for the other - She ran in three 100 meter events

So - She stayed awake for thirty hours straight before tumbling into bed.

Hope that helps!

Jamesaritchie · Mar 3, 2013

In dialogue, use thirty. People speak words, not numerals. In narration, follow the rules for numbers, and there are rules.

boron · Mar 4, 2013

Can this be considered a basic style (the minimum of what is expected) in the US: Spell, if on the beginning of the sentence and spell one to ten? But not necessary 12, 20, 40, 72, 100.

Fallen · Mar 4, 2013

boron said:
Can this be considered a basic style (the minimum of what is expected) in the US: Spell, if on the beginning of the sentence and spell one to ten? But not necessary 12, 20, 40, 72, 100.

I don't know about basic style, but the Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed) opts for writing out numbers one to ninety-nine, then using numericals for anything above 100, if I remember rightly.

Chris P · Mar 4, 2013

Fallen said:
I don't know about basic style, but the Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed) opts for writing out numbers one to ninety-nine, then using numericals for anything above 100, if I remember rightly.

One to ninety-nine? I like that, although I remember it as one to ten.

The key is to do what looks better. For fiction, I try to avoid numerals as much as possible. However, years should always be in numerals, and if the year occurs at the beginning of the sentence it is best to reword it to put the year later. For the "107 hot dogs," I would say "over one hundred" unless it is important that the exact number be given, in which case the numerals should be used.

King Neptune · Mar 4, 2013

boron said:
Can this be considered a basic style (the minimum of what is expected) in the US: Spell, if on the beginning of the sentence and spell one to ten? But not necessary 12, 20, 40, 72, 100.

I believe that spelling out any number that uses one or two words is the way that it is usually put. One would use numerals for 538, but five hundred would be in words. There are others who would sau that three words or fewer is the rule. so five hundred twenty yes, 528 no.

buz · Mar 4, 2013

boron said:
Can this be considered a basic style (the minimum of what is expected) in the US: Spell, if on the beginning of the sentence and spell one to ten? But not necessary 12, 20, 40, 72, 100.

Originally Posted by Fallen

I don't know about basic style, but the Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed) opts for writing out numbers one to ninety-nine, then using numericals for anything above 100, if I remember rightly.

As well as "whole" numbers above a hundred--a thousand, a million, five hundred, but 101, 250, or 1239.

I believe it's different for scientific or technical writing, though, which I am completely unfamiliar with...

Bufty · Mar 4, 2013

I'll worry about it when I actually have to write a number.

If I have to answer a written maths question as to how long six twits take to mow a meadow, I'll write 30 hours.

If one of my characters is asked the same question they'll answer "Thirty hours."

Susan Coffin · Mar 4, 2013

Is the number used in dialogue?

If it's in dialogue, I'd spell it out.

If it's in narrative, you can just use the number.

Good luck on your novel.

Terie · Mar 4, 2013

boron said:
Can this be considered a basic style....

There is no universal style on spelling out vs using numerals. The closest to 'universal' I've seen is to spell it out if it's the first word in a sentence, and there are probably exceptions even to that.

As others have said, just be consistent. If you contract the work to a publisher, they'll apply their house style.

And this isn't the sort of thing that will cause or even contribute to a rejection. It's completely irrelevant as long as you're consistent with whichever style you choose, so pick the style you like best and that's easiest for you to remember, and stick with that.

Chris P · Mar 4, 2013

buzhidao said:
As well as "whole" numbers above a hundred--a thousand, a million, five hundred, but 101, 250, or 1239.

I believe it's different for scientific or technical writing, though, which I am completely unfamiliar with...

SINCE YOU ASKED!

If you are measuring a quantity, or if the number is followed by a unit, then it is always the numeral: 5 ml, 37 cm, 1 kPa, etc.

If you are counting items, and the "unit" is not a unit but an item, you spell out nine or less but use numerals for 10 and higher: 15 students, eight dogs, four chocolate cakes.

boron · Mar 4, 2013

Terie said:
As others have said, just be consistent.

In my health articles (which provide a lot of data, but are not exactly "technical" writing), I often use amounts with units; I also often use from...to, like: 5-15 liters or from 5 to 15 liters. This is the way I'd like to write, and not five to 15 liters. I tend to avoid 5-15 L, since many readers could ask what's "L."

Below are not my claims, they are quotes of rules from grammarbook.com, just to add to the confusion:

1. Spell out single-digit whole numbers. Use numerals for numbers greater than nine [so, not ten?].

2. Be consistent within a category. For example, if you choose numerals because one of the numbers is greater than nine, use numerals for all numbers in that category. If you choose to spell out numbers because one of the numbers is a single digit, spell out all numbers in that category.
Correct example: Given the budget constraints, if all 30 history students attend the four plays, then the 7 math students...
Incorrect example: I asked for five pencils, not 50.

Bufty · Mar 4, 2013

Why bother adding to the confusion?

BenPanced · Mar 4, 2013

Choose a style and be consistent. Your publisher will let you know in the in-house style.

Srsly. It happened to me. I followed the "spell out anything over ten" rule and and wound up having to spell out everything because it's House Rules.

blacbird · Mar 4, 2013

Fallen is correct, according to most style guides: Spell out numbers of one or two digits, render larger things numerically. It is probably more sensible to handle the big round numbers, like a hundred, a thousand, a million in words rather than numerically.

caw

30 hours or thirty hours?

msd

Nekko

Back to purring

Jamesaritchie

boron

Health writer

Fallen

Stood at the coalface

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

King Neptune

buz

can't stop hemorrhaging emojis

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

Terie

Writer is as Writer does

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

boron

Health writer

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

blacbird