[stylist] Writing question

Wed Nov 12 02:56:19 UTC 2008

p.s. I should have added: I am saving this to braille it as a 
reference card.  nicely presented.

thanks Fred.
jc

Jim Canaday M.A.
Lawrence, KS

At 07:01 PM 11/11/2008, you wrote:
>Hello,
>
>There are rules for numbers.  Here they are.  I hope this is helpful.
>
>Warmest Regards,
>
>Fred
>
>Writing Numbers
>Rule 1.
>Spell out single-digit whole numbers. Use numerals for numbers greater than
>nine.
>Correct Examples:
>I want five copies.
>I want 10 copies.
>Rule 2.
>Be consistent within a category. For example, 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.
>If you have numbers in different categories, use numerals for one category
>and spell
>out the other.
>Correct Examples:
>My 10 cats fought with their 2 cats.
>My ten cats fought with their two cats.
>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.
>  (Students
>  are represented with figures;
>plays are represented with words.)
>Incorrect Example:
>I asked for five pencils, not 50.
>Rule 3.
>Always spell out simple fractions and use hyphens with them.
>Examples:
>One-half of the pies have been eaten.
>A two-thirds majority is required for that bill to pass in Congress.
>Rule 4.
>A mixed fraction can be expressed in figures unless it is the first word of
>a sentence.
>Examples:
>We expect a 5 1/2 percent wage increase.
>Five and one-half percent was the maximum allowable interest.
>Rule 5.
>The simplest way to express large numbers is best. Round numbers are usually
>spelled
>out. 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 five hundred to five million dollars.
>Correct:
>You can earn from $5 hundred to $5 million.
>Incorrect:
>You can earn from $500 to $5 million.
>Incorrect:
>You can earn from $500 to five million dollars.
>Rule 6.
>Write decimals in figures. Put a zero in front of a decimal unless the
>decimal itself
>begins with a zero.
>Examples:
>The plant grew 0.79 of a foot in one year.
>The plant grew only .07 of a foot this year because of the drought.
>Rule 7.
>When writing out large numbers of five or more digits before the decimal
>point, use
>a comma where the comma would appear in the figure format. Use the word
>and
>only where the decimal point appears in the figure format.
>Examples:
>$15,768.13: Fifteen thousand, seven hundred sixty-eight dollars and thirteen
>cents
>$1054.21: One thousand fifty-four dollars and twenty-one cents
>Note:
>The comma is now commonly omitted in four-digit whole numbers.
>Rule 8.
>The following examples apply when using dates:
>Examples:
>The meeting is scheduled for June 30.
>The meeting is scheduled for the 30th of June.
>We have had tricks played on us on April 1.
>The 1st of April puts some people on edge.
>Rule 9.
>When expressing decades, you may spell them out and lowercase them.
>Example:
>During the eighties and nineties, the U.S. economy grew.
>Rule 10.
>If you wish to express decades using incomplete numerals, put an apostrophe
>before
>the incomplete numeral but not between the year and the
>s.
>Correct:
>During the '80s and '90s, the U.S. economy grew.
>Incorrect:
>During the '80's and '90's, the U.S. economy grew.
>Rule 11.
>You may also express decades in complete numerals. Again, don't use an
>apostrophe
>between the year and the
>s.
>Example:
>During the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. economy grew.
>Rule 12.
>Normally, spell out the time of day in text even with half and quarter
>hours. With
>o'clock, the number is always spelled out.
>Examples:
>She gets up at four thirty before the baby wakes up.
>The baby wakes up at five o'clock in the morning.
>Rule 13.
>Use numerals with the time of day when exact times are being emphasized or
>when using
>A.M. or P.M.
>Examples:
>Monib's flight leaves at 6:22 A.M.
>Please arrive by 12:30 sharp.
>She had a 7:00 P.M. deadline.
>Rule 14.
>Use noon and midnight rather than 12:00 A.M. or 12:00 P.M.
>Rule 15.
>Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.
>Examples:
>Forty-three people were injured in the train wreck.
>Twenty-three of them were hospitalized.
>Rule 16.
>Write out a number if it begins a sentence.
>Examples:
>Twenty-nine people won an award for helping their communities.
>That 29 people won an award for helping their communities was fantastic!
>OR
>That twenty-nine people won an award for helping their communities was
>fantastic!
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Donna Hill
>Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 4:48 PM
>To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [stylist] Writing question
>
>Robert,
>Not sure if there's a rule, but I don't think it's ever wrong to spell
>out the number in the body of a piece.
>Donna
>
>--
>For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
>http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>
>Apple I-Tunes
>
>phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374
>
>Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
>www.padnfb.org
>
>
>
>
>
>Robert Newman wrote:
> > When in a narrative of a story and you are needing to speak of a number,
> > under what circumstances do you use an actual numeral/number verses
>writing
> > out the word? For example- the house is 100 years old. Or- She carried the
> > two little dogs up to the seventeenth floor.
> >
> > Are there rules? Or is it just style?
> >
> >
> > Robert Leslie Newman
> > Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> > THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
> > Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
> >
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