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Fractions, Decimals, and Money

Rule: Always spell out simple fractions and use hyphens with them.

Example: One-half of the pies have been eaten.

Rule: A mixed fraction can be expressed in figures unless it is the first word of a sentence.

Example: We expect a 5 1/2 percent wage increase.
Example: Five and one-half percent was the maximum allowable interest.

Rule: Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.

Example: Forty-three people were injured in the train wreck.

Rule: Replace a decimal point with and when you write out amounts on a check. You may use numerals in fraction form for cents.

Example: Fifty-two and 46/100 (Dollars will already be printed at the end of the line.)

Rule: Express large numbers simply. Be careful to be consistent within a sentence.

Correct: You can earn from one million to five million dollars.
Incorrect: You can earn from one million to $5,000,000.
Correct: You can earn from $500 to $5,000,000.
Incorrect: You can earn from $500 to $5 million.
Correct: You can earn from five hundred to five million dollars.
Incorrect: You can earn from $500 to five million dollars.

Rule: Write decimals in figures. Place a zero in front of a decimal unless the decimal itself begins with a zero.

Example: The plant grew 0.79 of a foot in one year.
Example: The plant grew only .07 of a foot this year because of the drought.

Quiz: Correct or incorrect?

1. Eighty one people were injured in the train accident.
2. I wrote a check for $300, not $3000.00.
3. Hair grows one fourth of an inch per month.
4. The tree grew .95 of a foot due to a wet winter.

Answers: All sentences were incorrect.

1. Eighty-one
2. $3000
3. one-fourth
4. 0.95

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Posted on Sunday, August 24th, 2008, at 11:22 pm

Writing Numbers as Words

Is it necessary to put a numeral in parentheses after you have already written the number in words?

Example: We will need two (2) chairs.

Conversely, is it necessary to write the number in words after you have already used the numeral?

Example: We will need 200 (two hundred) chairs.

If your document is dense, has a lot of numbers, or contains large numbers, the numerical form helps your readers scan information quickly. Conversely, while we may make a typo with only a numeral, we are almost guaranteed accuracy by writing the number in word format. So using a combination of numerals and written number format can be useful without being redundant.

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Posted on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008, at 2:53 am

Forming the Plurals of Numbers, Letters, and Abbreviations

Rule: The plurals for capital letters and numbers used as nouns are not formed with apostrophes.

Example: She consulted with three M.D.s. BUT
Example: She went to three M.D.s’ offices.
The apostrophe is needed here to show plural possessive.

Example: She learned her ABCs.
Example: the 1990s, not the 1990′s
Example: the ’90s or the mid-’70s, not the ’90′s or the mid-’70′s
Example: She learned her times tables for 6s and 7s.

Exception: Use apostrophes with capital letters and numbers when the meaning would be unclear otherwise.
Example: Please dot your I’s.
You don’t mean Is.
Example: Ted couldn’t distinguish between her 6′s and 0′s.
You don’t mean Os.

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Posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008, at 8:31 pm

Writing Numbers

English has many rules for writing numbers and just as many authorities disagreeing with each other about them. Here are some general rules that you may wish to keep handy.

Rule: Spell out single-digit whole numbers.

Example: I would like five copies.

Rule: Use numerals for numbers greater than nine.

Example: I would like 10 copies.

Rule: Be consistent within a category. If you choose numerals because one of the numbers is greater than nine, use numerals for all numbers in that category. If you choose to spell out numbers because one of the numbers is a single digit, spell out all numbers in that category.

Examples:
My 10 cats fought with their 2 cats.
OR
My ten cats fought with their two cats.

Incorrect: I asked for five pencils, not 50.

Rule: If you have numbers in different categories, use numerals for one category and spell out the other.

Example: Given the budget constraints, if all 30 history students attend the four plays, then the 7 math students will be able to attend only two plays.

Note that students are represented with figures and plays are represented with words.

Examples:
I asked for 30 pencils for my five employees.
I have 10 toes but only one nose.

Quiz:
A or B?

1. A. I have 11 cats and two turtles. B. I have eleven cats and 2 turtles.
2. A. We have 23 people in our class. B. We have twenty-three people in our class.
3. A. I need 3 pieces of paper, not twelve. B. I need 3 pieces of paper, not 12.

Answers:

1. A
2. A
3. B

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Posted on Saturday, April 14th, 2007, at 4:33 am

Writing Addresses

If you are writing an address, whether typed or handwritten, on an envelope to be mailed via the post office, do not use any punctuation. Use all CAPS. Center the address on the envelope and use a flush left margin. Put room, suite, and apartment numbers on the same line as the street address.

Example:
JESSIE SANTANA
4325 W PALM BEACH RD RM 419
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94116

If you know the four-digit extension of the zip code, the post office will be even happier with you.

Also, note that you should use RD for Road and W for West. Other abbreviations: STE for Suite and APT for Apartment.

If you are writing an address in the body of a letter, use punctuation.

Example: Please send mail to Jessie Santana, 4325 W. Palm Beach Rd., San Francisco, CA 94116.

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Posted on Wednesday, January 17th, 2007, at 6:42 pm

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