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It can be difficult to know how to write numbers in academic writing (e.g. five or 5 , 1 million or 1,000,000 ). This section gives some guidelines on when to use words to write numbers, and when to use numerals . There are also some exceptions to the rule which are considered, i.e. times when you might expect to use words but should instead use numerals. There is also a checklist at the end, that you can use to check the use of numbers in your own writing.
In general, words should be used for zero to ten , and numerals used from 11 onwards. The same rule should be applied to ordinal numbers, i.e. use words for first, second up to tenth, and numbers plus 'th' (or 'st') from 11th onwards. However, it is always best to check what the accepted practice is at your university (or in your department/on your course), and remember that some common referencing systems have their own, different requirements, as follows.
Before looking at when to use numerals (which is almost all other situations, see next), it is useful to look at important exceptions.
(1) When the number begins a sentence , you should use words , whatever the size of the number (though if possible, rewrite the sentence so the number is not at the beginning).
(2) When expressing part of a very large round number , e.g. million, billion, you should use words for that large number part (it is common to use abbreviations m for million and bn billion ).
Conversely, numerals should be used rather than words, whatever the size of the number, when large and small numbers are combined , since this makes comparisons easier.
Numerals are used for almost all other situations. These include the following.
The following are a few other points to remember when using numbers.
American Psychological Association (2019a) Numbers Expressed in Words . Available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/numbers/words (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).
American Psychological Association (2019b) Numbers Expressed in Numerals . Available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/numbers/numerals (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).
Harvard Wiki (2019) Numbers . Available at: https://wiki.harvard.edu/confluence/display/HSG/Numbers . (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).
University of Bristol (2015) Using numbers . Available at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_33.htm (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).
University of New England (nd) Numbers in academic writing . Available at: https://aso-resources.une.edu.au/academic-writing/miscellaneous/numbers/ (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).
University of Oxford (2015) Style Guide . Available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/media_wysiwyg/University%20of%20Oxford%20Style%20Guide.pdf (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).
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Below is a checklist for using numbers in academic writing. Use it to check your writing, or as a peer to help.
Words have been used for , and numerals for numbers 11 and above (unless there are different requirements e.g. ). | ||
Numbers (written as numerals) are used to . | ||
Very are expressed using . | ||
If , numerals are used throughout. | ||
Numerals have been used for . |
Read more about using complex grammar in the next section.
Go back to the previous section about describing data .
Author: Sheldon Smith ‖ Last modified: 16 January 2022.
Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .
Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.
Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).
Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.
Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).
Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.
Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.
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Note: This page reflects the 6th edition of the APA manual, which is now out of date. It will remain online until 2021, but will not be updated. There is currently no equivalent 7th edition page, but we're working on one. Thank you for your patience. Here is a link to our APA 7 "General Format" page .
In general, APA style recommends using words to express numbers below 10, and using numerals when expressing numbers 10 and above. See below for a more extensive list.
In addition to expressing numbers 10 and above, the following are other instances when you would use numerals rather than words:
Numbers mentioned in the abstract, a table, or a figure in the paper (this allows for brevity)
This study consisted of 8 tests.
Numbers that immediately precede a unit of measurement
2.54 cm, 1.5 gal
Numbers that represent statistical or mathematical functions, fractional or decimal quantities, percentages, ratios, percentiles, and quartiles
Divided by 10
50% of the participants
a ratio of 10:1
the 10 th percentile
numbers that represent time, dates, ages, scores and point values on a scale, exact sums of money, and numerals
2 hr 30 min
50-year-olds
A 10-point scale
Exception: Use words for approximations of numbers of days, weeks, months, or years
Roughly six months ago
Numbers that denote a specific place in a numbered series, parts of books and tables, and each number in a list of four or more numbers
Illustration 1
In addition to using words to express numbers below 10, use words to also express:
Numbers beginning a sentence, title, or text heading
Fifteen participants were in the control group.
Common fractions
Three fourths of the population
Common phrases or groups
Seven Wonders of the World
The Three Musketeers
Here are a few more rules concerning numbers to adhere to as you follow APA style:
If you are using two modifiers against a noun, use a combination of both numerals and words
Three 5-point scales
If you’re unsure which modifier to write and which to express numerically, try it both ways. Be sure the way you express the numbers is in the clearest way possible.
Place a zero before a decimal fraction less than 1 if the statistic can exceed 1.
If the statistic cannot exceed 1, you do not need a zero.
For more specific guidelines, talk to your instructor or refer to the Style Manual.
Spell out numbers that can be expressed in either one or two words.
Always spell out the number if a sentence begins with a number.
Example: Two thousand twelve was an election year in the United States.
Use numerals if you are writing an essay about a scientific subject or an essay that includes frequent use of numbers, like statistical findings.
Always use numerals:
Exceptions:
Reviewing the Rules
Why do so many people find it difficult to remember the rules for using numbers in formal writing ? Probably because the rules seem a little fuzzy sometimes.
So what can you do? It's no mystery: as with anything, read and study the rules several times, and it will all seem natural, eventually.
Spell out numbers one through ten, as in this example:
Spell out numbers above ten, unless writing the number would involve using more than two words. For example:
It would look odd to begin a sentence with a numeral.
However, you should try to avoid using long, clunky numbers at the beginning of a sentence. Instead of writing that four hundred and fifty people attended a party, you could re-write:
Use numbers for dates:
And use numbers for phone numbers:
And use numbers for telling time if using a.m. or p.m.:
But spell out times when using "o'clock" or when the a.m. or p.m. are omitted:
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Here are some key rules to keep in mind: 1. Spell out numbers one to nine: In general, spell out numbers from one to nine (e.g., "two apples", "seven participants") to improve readability and avoid confusion. 2. Use numerals for numbers 10 and above: Use numerals for numbers 10 and above (e.g., "12 years old", "22 participants ...
A simple rule for using numbers in writing is that small numbers ranging from one to ten (or one to nine, depending on the style guide) should generally be spelled out. Larger numbers (i.e., above ten) are written as numerals. For example, instead of writing "It cost ten-thousand four-hundred and sixteen dollars to renovate the local library ...
Rule 7. Write decimals using figures. As a courtesy to readers, many writers put a zero in front of the decimal point. Example: A meter is about 1.1 yards. As a courtesy to readers, many writers put a zero in front of the decimal point with numbers less than one.
Revised on July 23, 2023. Numbers can be written either as words (e.g., one hundred) or numerals (e.g., 100). In this article we follow the guidelines of APA Style, one of the most common style guides used in academic writing. In general, words should be used for numbers from zero through nine, and numerals should be used from 10 onwards.
Repeat numbers in commercial writing. The bill will not exceed one hundred (100) dollars. Use numerals in legal writing. The cost of damage is $1,365.42. Numbers in series and statistics should be consistent. two apples, six oranges, and three bananas. NOT: two apples, 6 oranges, and 3 bananas. 115 feet by 90 feet (or) 115' x 90'.
You need to know and use the conventions for writing numbers correctly when you are writing and proofreading your work. 1. When to write numbers in words • Write in words one or two-word numbers, rounded numbers and ordinal numbers For general academic writing, you need to write these numbers in words: all numbers under one hundred (e.g ...
Numbers. Numbers are used in all sorts of scholarly works. For example, writers may report numerical information about participants (number of participants, demographic information such as age, etc.) as well as the results of statistical analyses. Even writers who are not conducting empirical research often use statistical information to ...
Numbers Expressed in Numerals. In general, use numerals to express numbers 10 and above, and use words to express numbers zero through nine. there were 15 psychologists at the clinic. the study had 40 participants. students were in the third, sixth, eighth, 10th, and 12th grades. However, there are exceptions to this general guideline for ...
Numbers. Generally, you can spell out numbers below 10 in words (seven, three), and use numerals for anything 10 and higher (10, 42). You should use Arabic numerals (1, 7) instead of Roman numerals (II, XI) unless the Roman numerals are part of established terminology in your field. In numbers greater than 1,000, use commas to separate groups ...
1. Spell out numbers from zero to nine. Numbers that are spelled out from zero to nine should be written as words in an essay. For example, "two apples," "sixty-three percent," or "nine thousand.". This helps to maintain consistency and readability in the text. 2. Use numerals for numbers 10 and above.
Numbers and Statistics Guide Numbers see Publication Manual Sections 6.32-6.35 for guidelines on using numerals vs. words • Use numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) for the following: ° numbers 10 and above; see exceptions in the next section ° numbers used in statistics (e.g., 2.45, 3 times as many, 2 x 2 design) ° numbers used with units of ...
9. Two numbers next to each other. It can be confusing if you write "7 13-year-olds", so write one of them as a numeral, like "seven 13-year-olds". Pick the number that has the fewest letters. 10. Ordinal numbers and consistency. Don't say "He was my 1st true love," but rather "He was my first true love.".
Level Up Your Team. See why leading organizations rely on MasterClass for learning & development. Different editorial style manuals have different rules for when to spell out numbers instead of using numerals. Here are a few examples of when to spell out numbers, and when to use numerals.
According to APA Style, you should normally use numerals for the numbers 10 and above. You should use words to express numbers below 10 (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine). Note, however, that APA lists a wide variety of exceptions. For instance, numbers that appear right before a unit of measurement should be expressed ...
4. How to write numbers correctly • Use particular conventions if you are required to write digits . a. In general, use commas between groups of three digits in numbers of 1,000 or more (e.g., 1,360; 566,420; 10,235,362). b. To create a plural, add an 's' (e.g., 20s, 5s). • Use particular conventions if you are required to write numbers ...
Rule #1: When should you write out numbers and when should you use the number? For papers in the humanities and in some social sciences, you will often use either the MLA or Chicago citation styles. In those styles, when you are writing a non-technical paper, you should write out numbers less than one hundred, using a dash for two-digit numbers ...
Dates (e.g., 06/12/2013 or 6 December 2013) and years (e.g., 1948, 300-250 BCE) are usually written using numerals. Centuries, however, should be written out in full (i.e., "eighteenth century" rather than "18 th century"). Technical Numbers. In technical writing, such as in the sciences and math, it's more common to use numerals than ...
If you are going to take this approach then you should include a hyphen when writing numbers with two words, e.g. twenty-seven. For larger numbers, it is acceptable to use either numerals or words depending on context (e.g. a thousand people/1,000 people), but you should always use numerals in technical writing, e.g. 200,000 km. For less ...
It can be difficult to know how to write numbers in academic writing (e.g. five or 5, 1 million or 1,000,000).This section gives some guidelines on when to use words to write numbers, and when to use numerals.There are also some exceptions to the rule which are considered, i.e. times when you might expect to use words but should instead use numerals.
Here are a few more rules concerning numbers to adhere to as you follow APA style: If you are using two modifiers against a noun, use a combination of both numerals and words. Three 5-point scales. If you're unsure which modifier to write and which to express numerically, try it both ways.
When Should I Use Numerals? Use numerals if you are writing an essay about a scientific subject or an essay that includes frequent use of numbers, like statistical findings. Always use numerals: in front of units of measurements. Example: 5 millimeters. with abbreviations such as 6 lbs., 4:20 p.m., $9, 2", 4%. in dates: Example: April 1, 2014.
Always Spell Out Numbers that Begin Sentences. It would look odd to begin a sentence with a numeral. Four hundred fifty people attended the birthday party. However, you should try to avoid using long, clunky numbers at the beginning of a sentence. Instead of writing that four hundred and fifty people attended a party, you could re-write:
Welcome to the Traditional Service at 11:00 at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church Sunday, July 7, 2024. Pastors: Rev. John DeBevoise & Rev. John Reiter...
Number three, we found ourselves in a situation where, if you take a look at what Trump did in Ukraine, he's - this guy told Ukraine - told Trump, do whatever you want. Do whatever you want.
CavanKerry Press accepts submissions for poetry collections, nonfiction essay collections, and memoir. Selected titles will be published by CavanKerry Press and receive national distribution. CavanKerry Press publishes works that explore the emotional and psychological landscapes of everyday life, regardless of the author's prior publication history. We are particularly interested in receiving ...