In certain contexts such as referring to a list, you might opt for number 1, based on chicago style for page 1, table 1, and other such expressions. Abbreviations should be used only in contexts where they are clear to readers. If a sentence begins with a number even a year it should be spelled out or the sentence rewritten. For other units of measure not covered here, see the chicago manual of style. Chicagos preferred style is thirties and forties, but if you need to use numerals, we recommend leaving out the apostrophes. The chicago manual of style lays out the following rules for spelling out numbers. Although usage varies, most people spell out numbers that can be expressed in one or two words and use figures for numbers that are three or more words long. Feb 02, 2017 the chicago manual of style and the mla and apa style guides recommend using the oxford comma. Jun 09, 2016 the chicago manual of style, our preferred guide, says that in nontechnical writing, we should spell out whole numbers from one through one hundred, round numbers, and any number beginning a sentence 380. Sometimes you spell numbers out, sometimes you dont, and of course there are exceptions. Jul 29, 2019 spell out whole numbers zero to one hundred, and use numerals for everything else. An exception to this is online text, where in a way all bets are off.
Spell out ordinal numbers up to and including ninth when indicating sequence in time or location e. Turabians manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations 8th ed. Numbers can you inform me how you would recommend writing out 10. The chicago manual of style turabian citation style includes two systems for citations. Spell out whole numbers up to and including one hundred when followed by hundred, thousand, hundred thousand, million, billion, and so on e. For example, thirty two children from eleven families were packed into three vans. Spell out wholeround numbers one through one hundred. Chicago manual of style and the apa publication manual. I found 7 mistakes, compared with only 89 last time. May 01, 2009 one through nine are spelled out, 10 and above are figures arabic numerals. If a number higher than 100 is rounded off or approximated, spell it out in nonscientific copy. Add a zero before the decimal point for decimal fractions less than one, unless the customer is asked to enter the value.
For example, in the chicago manual of style, you write out the words for the numbers one through 100, but use the numeral format for most bigger numbers. The chicago manual of style, our preferred guide, says that in nontechnical writing, we should spell out whole numbers from one through one hundred, round. Chicago manual of style basics the journalists resource. The general guidelines in the chicago manual of style make this clear. Use numerals for measurements of distance, temperature, volume, size, weight, pixels, points, and so oneven if the number is less than 10. Chicago prefers the use of numerals for all numbers used as part of percentages, but use the word percent for humanistic copy and the % symbol for scientific and statistical copy. Chicago provides an alternative for technical writers, which is to spell out only singledigit numbers.
Use figures for 10 or above and whenever preceding a unit of measure or referring to ages of people, animals, events or things. May 31, 2012 in general, the chicago manual of style wants you to write out the words for more numbers than other style guides. For example, see the chicago manual of style, 17th edition, sections 9. Heres the chicago manual of style s general rule about the use of numerals. I am confused about the rules given for spelling out centuries. The chicago manual of style recommends spelling out the numbers zero through one hundred and using figures thereafterexcept for whole numbers used in combination with hundred, thousand, hundred thousand, million, billion, and beyond e. Time according to chicago manual of style blue dragon. Jan 31, 2020 the general guidelines in the chicago manual of style make this clear, both in the numbers chapter at cmos 9. The chicago manual of style documentation system is used in both the humanities and the social sciences.
Chicago manual of style height and weight creative. For example, thirtytwo children from eleven families were packed into three vans. Spell out decades the sixties, the seventies or if the decade is identified by the century, write them as plural numerals 1920s, 1880s. The chicago manual of style online is the venerable, timetested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. Is it the fourth or the 4th of july formatting numbers in. Using numbers, including percentages get it write online. Recommendations to spell or not to spell a number differ from style book to style book. Any number beginning a sentence and round numbers hundreds, thousands, etc. Chicago manual of style height and weight discussion in word mechanics started by dillseed, apr 10, 2014.
The chicago manual of style chicago style, recommends spelling out whole numbers through one hundred with words such as million, billion, and trillion. Five surprising writing rules from the chicago manual of style. Thirtytwo children from eleven families were packed into eight vintage beetles. It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. Use digits with words such as million, billion, and trillion for nonwhole numbers and numbers above. The authors point out, though, that such rules should be used with flexibility so as to avoid such awkward locutions as 12 eggs, of which nine were laid yesterday. Jun 11, 2019 you often write out numbers in dialogue.
If you are using a specific citation style, such as mla or apa, consult the style manual for specific formatting instructions. The chicago manual of style, on the other hand, suggests that writers spell out number zero through one hundred and use numerals after that point the exception being whenever whole numbers in combination with hundred, thousand, hundred thousand, million, billion etc. As far as i know, none of our current primary style guides completely prohibit spelling out time, measurement, or money. Im usually scrambling to meet a deadline when i need number style information. However, the chicago manual of style and yet other manuals advocate spelling out numbers up to one hundred, with many other exceptions. Also spell it out if you are using half, or quarter hours. Ap and apa both spell out numbers below 10 and use numerals for numbers 10 and over. The third parking lot will provide space for 540 more cars. Decades are either spelled out or expressed with numerals, e.
How to write out numbers in english properly a research. Use numerals for other numbers, unless the number starts a sentence. Units of measure terms microsoft style guide microsoft docs. Chicago style page formatting chicago style guide menlo. Mar 06, 2018 when using the word oclock, always spell out the number. The examples are taken straight from the seventeenth edition of the chicago manual of style. Since the chicago manual of style cmos is primarily intended as a style guide for published works rather than class papers, these guidelines will be supplemented with information from, kate l. The default chicago style for numbers one through ten is to spell them out, so number one works well. Always use figures and when possible, the word percent.
According to cms, you spell out numbers from zero to one hundred. 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. But if you refer to two amounts in the same category, default to numerals. Unlike the chicago manual,university style calls for second and third to be enumerated as shown. The general idea is to break a style rule if it isnt working wella useful tenet for all writing. However, for apa style, when the numbers involve exact times, dates, ages, scores, points on a scale, or monetary amounts, you use numerals. Chicagos preference for omitting and from a spelled out number. Ive included a list of all the chicago number rules that follow the general rule just so you can make sure. For example, the associated press and the british newspaper the guardian both recommend that their writers use the words for numbers less than 10 and the numeral for anything bigger. The basic chicago rule is to spell out numbers from one to one hundred but use numerals for 101 and up. I used the numeral 100 here because our website follows ap style for numbers, which is different.
These questions are designed to test knowledge of the chicago manual of style, which prefers merriamwebsters collegiate dictionary, 11th edition. Aug 16, 2019 number formatting is one of the trickiest parts of chicago style. In fact, the associated press stylebook ap style doesnt allow decades to be written as words. It looks like youre using internet explorer 11 or older. Other style guides may follow a different dictionary. I dont follow that rule because i dont like the way 11 looks in a sentence. Chicago manual of style spell out numbers zero through one hundred use numerals for numbers over one hundred spell out certain round numerals. The chicago manual of style, our preferred guide, says that in nontechnical writing, we should spell out whole numbers from one through one hundred, round numbers, and any number beginning a sentence 380. Rules for writing numbers when to spell out numbers. Do you know the big differences between ap, apa, chicago, and.
In nontechnical contexts, chicago advises spelling out whole numbers cardinal and ordinal from zero through one hundred. Dec 11, 2019 a number of specific rules for spelling out numbers are how to make an analysis outlined in section 9. Chicago manual of style, gregg reference manual, and morsons ap stylebook numerals in general, spell out one through nine. Hi, cmos people, i cant quite seem to figure out whether i should use spelled out numbers or numerals with units of timefor example, seconds, minutes, hours. Search this site for style guide for more information. The human brain is made up of approximately one hundred billion cells.
893 1415 1052 1365 387 1438 1499 1393 1092 311 1066 1177 626 1642 406 1710 297 365 1374 151 1211 1643 102 398 1591 616 475 255 625 109 229 1317 198