Before we dive back into numbers today, take a moment to review the general rules for when to use a figure versus spell out a number.

Notice that both of these major authorities acknowledge that the context of the material is a deciding factor. That really is the critical rule: Double-check how numbers fit into "the big picture." If, in the larger sense, a number is not terribly important but is stated only as a casual reference, it need not be highlighted through the use of Arabic numerals. But if that number is a key to understanding the larger point, it should stand out as a figure, not just another word in the passage.

Sometimes numbers are just mentioned in passing. Casual numbers don't mean much. They may not even represent actual fact. These are the kinds of numbers that would normally appear as words. This is appropriate because the rest of the sentence is made of words, and these casual numbers can fit right into the flow of the sentence without drawing undue attention to themselves.

You look like a million bucks.
He's first on my list of people I can't stand.
For the hundredth time, I don't want to serve on that committee.

When numbers are truly significant, on the other hand, you can bet they won't be stated in words. Among the numbers that nearly always appear as Arabic numerals are statistics, percentages, scores, and... Click here to read the rest of this post at the Sunny Words Blog.

The Sunny Words Blog is authored by VAF member AnnaLisa of Sunny Words Writing Services.


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