- Categories
- Education and Communications
- Writing
- Editing
- Spelling
Download Article
Learn the rules for writing single and double digit numbers
Author Info
Last Updated: November 15, 2023Fact Checked
Download Article
- Spelling Single-Digit Numbers |
- Writing Double-Digit Numbers |
- Writing Large Numbers |
- Writing Times or Dates |
- |
- Tips |
- Things You'll Need
Good grammar requires attention to detail and commitment to consistency. There are several different styles you can use to write numbers in text, which we've detailed in this article. We've also included some great tips and examples to help you confidently spell out numbers in your writing. Keep reading to learn more!
Part 1
Part 1 of 4:
Spelling Single-Digit Numbers
Download Article
Part 2
Part 2 of 4:
Writing Double-Digit Numbers
Download Article
1
Spell out numbers when they appear at the beginning of a sentence. In almost all cases, single, double-digit and compound numbers should be spelled out for clarity if they start a sentence.[2]
- Exceptions may be used for incomplete sentences, like bullet points, or four-numeral dates (i.e. 1845).
2
Decide whether you want to use numbers or spell out the words when double-digit numbers are used elsewhere in a sentence. The majority of styles suggest using the numerals, such as 67; however, Chicago Manual of Style suggests spelling these out until you get to number 100.[3]
- Check with your professor or editor if you are unsure.
- Whatever you choose, make sure you are consistent.
3
Hyphenate all double-digit numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine. This mostly applies to writing them at the beginning of a sentence. It can also apply to all double-digit numbers if you are using the Chicago Manual of Style.[4]
4
Spell out cents when you are writing them independently of a larger sum. It is better to write “fifty cents” than “$0.50”. If you are writing cents as part of an amount greater than $1, write “$1.50”.[5]
Advertisem*nt
Part 3
Part 3 of 4:
Writing Large Numbers
Download Article
1
Don’t spell out numbers that are larger than 99, unless they are at the beginning of a sentence. These numbers can get fairly long, and they are clearer if written as numerals. For instance, 487 is clearer and more succinct than four hundred eighty-three.[6]
2
Spell out large numbers at the beginning of a sentence. Despite the long numbers, this is still the accepted grammatical style in most cases. Note, that it is better to use the most succinct version of the word when you start getting into the thousands.[7]
- For example, forty-five hundred is a better spelling than four thousand five hundred.
- You don’t need to use the word “and” for larger numbers, as it is implied.
3
Include commas as well as numerals if you are writing numbers in the thousands that are not at the beginning of a sentence. For example, “She made $6,987 during the month of June.”[8]
4
Spell out numbers in the millions or higher. After you get to seven-digit figures, the zeros are generally too long to prove clear if you write numerals. For example, use one million, rather than 1,000,000.[9]
- Add the word “dollars” after the spelling if you are referring to currency. Replace dollars with another currency if it applies.
Advertisem*nt
Part 4
Part 4 of 4:
Writing Times or Dates
Download Article
1
Use numerals with dates, rather than spelling them out. For example, 1900 or 764. This is true whether at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence.[10]
- It is a good idea to include AD or BC for double or triple-digit dates to improve clarity.
2
Use numerals with times as well. For inexact times, you can write 8 AM, rather than 8:00. For specific times, include a colon and the exact time to the minute.[11]
- You can write AM and PM, am and pm, A.M. and P.M., or a.m. and p.m. All of these are correct. Just make sure you stick with one system.
3
Spell out noon or midnight, when using these times in a sentence.[12]
4
Spell out decades. Generally, it is better spell out seventies than write “70s.” Some styles prefer that you use numerals, in which case you should leave out the apostrophe before the “s.”[13]
5
Use numerals with four-digit dates. Also, avoid the apostrophe. For example, “1600s.”[14]
Advertisem*nt
Community Q&A
Search
Question
How do you write out 1,158,739.92?
Ruby
Top Answerer
One million, one hundred and fifty-eight thousand, seven hundred and thirty-nine point nine two.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHowYesNo
Not Helpful 4Helpful 1
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Advertisem*nt
Tips
If you’re reviewing a document for style consistency, try using the search or find tool to identify numbers that are spelled out in numerals, rather than words and replace them with the style you’ve chosen.
Thanks
Helpful0Not Helpful0
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Submit
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisem*nt
Things You'll Need
- Preferred Style (AP, Chicago, MLA, etc.)
You Might Also Like
Advertisem*nt
References
- ↑ https://www.englishclub.com/kids/numbers-chart.htm
- ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/when-to-spell-out-numbers/
- ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/when-to-spell-out-numbers/
- ↑ https://www.rochester.edu/news/styleguide/numerals.html
- ↑ https://www.grammarbook.com/numbers/numbers.asp
- ↑ https://apvschicago.com/2011/05/numbers-spell-out-or-use-numerals.html
- ↑ https://nau.edu/writing-style-guide/numbers-dates/
- ↑ https://www.rochester.edu/news/styleguide/numerals.html
- ↑ https://nau.edu/writing-style-guide/numbers-dates/
More References (5)
About This Article
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 9 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 59,212 times.
21 votes - 68%
Co-authors: 9
Updated: November 15, 2023
Views:59,212
Categories: Spelling
Article SummaryX
To spell numbers, use a hyphen to separate the words in double-digit numbers, such as “twenty-five” or “sixty-two.” Try to avoid spelling out numbers larger than 99 unless they are at the beginning of a sentence. However, very large numbers, such as 1,000,000, should be written as “one million.” For clarity, dates and times should be left as numerals, but you should spell out decades, such as “the seventies” or “the nineties.” For tips on how to write out large amounts of money, read on!
Did this summary help you?
- Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 59,212 times.
Did this article help you?
Advertisem*nt