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Chapter 12.
Numbers spelled out
12.16.
Spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence or head. Rephrase a sentence or head to avoid beginning with figures. (See rule 12.25 for related numbers.)
- Five years ago * * *; not 5 years ago * * *
- Five hundred fifty men hired * * *; not 550 men hired * * *
- "Five-Year Plan Announced"; not "5-Year Plan Announced" (head)
- The year 2065 seems far off * * *; not 2065 seems far off * * *
- Workers numbering 207,843 * * *; not 207,843 workers * * *
- Benefits of $69,603,566 * * *; not $69,603,566 worth of benefits * * *
- 1958 report change to the 1958 report
- $3,000 budgeted change to the sum of $3,000 budgeted
- 4 million jobless change to jobless number 4 million
12.17.
In verbatim testimony, hearings, transcripts, and question and answer matter, figures are used immediately following Q. and A. or name of interrogator or witness for years (e.g., 2008), sums of money, decimals, street numbers, and for numerical expressions beginning with 101.
- Mr. Birch, Junior. 2008 was a good year.
- Mr. Bell. $1 per share was the return. Two dollars in 1956 was the alltime high. Two thousand ten may be another story.
- Colonel Davis. 92 cents.
- Mr. Smith. 12.8 people.
- Mr. Jones. 1240 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004.
- Mr. Smith. Ninety-eight persons.
- Q. 101 years? But Q. One hundred years?
- A. 200 years.
- Mr. Smith. Ten-year average would be how much?
12.18.
A spelled-out number should not be repeated in figures, except in legal documents. In such instances use these forms:
- five (5) dollars, not five dollars (5)
- ten dollars ($10), not ten ($10) dollars
