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Numbers as numerals are generally easier for people to scan. Numbers as words remain a convention that people expect in some types of content.
In text, the general rule is:
Follow the same rule for writing numbers in headings and subheadings. Apply exceptions to this general rule in specific situations, explained on this page. The numbers ‘0’ and ‘1’ are difficult for some users to read. Some typefaces make it difficult to see the difference between:
In some typefaces, the numeral ‘1’ can also be confused with the numeral ‘7’. Writing ‘zero’ and ‘one’ helps to ensure all users understand you are referring to the number.
Use words for 2 and above in these specific situationsThere are exceptions to the general rule for using numerals in text. Use words for numbers when:
In addition, use words for numbers below 10 for government content that follows journalistic conventions (for example, media releases). Starting a sentence with a numberStart sentences with words rather than numerals. If you must use a number at the start of a sentence, write it out in words.
It is sometimes better to rearrange the sentence.
FractionsWrite words in general text for fractions. Use fractions when:
If the exact number and value is important, use decimals instead.
Proper nouns, titles of publications and figures of speechWrite numbers as words if this is how they appear in a name or title.
The Treasurer wrote the terms of reference for the Review of the Four Major Banks and Other Financial Institutions. Private politics : a study of five political outlooks by Alan Davies Use words for figures of speech.
Government content and other style conventionsVarious style guides treat numbers differently. Media organisations generally use words for all numbers below 10 (or 11), and use numerals for the rest. Content of the same type necessarily uses the same style, for example, in media releases. Check your user research. It might show a need to use words for numbers other than ‘zero’ and ‘one’, for example, in:
Be consistent. Once your style for numerals or words is settled, use the same style throughout the content or series of publications. Write all numbers as numerals in these specific situationsThere are exceptions to using words for ‘zero’ and ‘one’. Write all numbers as numerals:
Units of measurementAlways use numerals to report a measurement (unless it is a large rounded number). Mathematical formats, relationships and comparisonsAlways use numerals:
Use numerals when writing fractions in specialist content. Otherwise the general rule is words for fractions. Mathematical relationshipsUse well-understood conventions to write mathematical relationships. Keep relationships together so they are easily understood. To do this use:
Decimal numbersUse decimals when you need to be precise. Always write them as numerals.
ComparisonsCompare numerals, not words and numerals. If one number is a decimal, the other must be a decimal and so on.
For those aged 75 to 84, the rate was 2.5 times as high as the rate for the control group. This fell to 1.1 times as high for those aged 85 and over.
For those aged 75 to 84, the rate was over twice as high as the rate for the control group. This fell to 1.1 times as high for those aged 85 and over. Comparisons are sometimes hard for people, so make them clear. It may seem obvious, but comparisons are only useful if like is compared with like. Tables, graphs and chartsLists or blocks of data must consist of numerals, or people will find them hard to understand. Always use numerals in graphs, charts and tables. Numerals save space and help people scan, find and compare values quickly. Restrict data to key indicators and results. Keep the presentation of data as simple as possible, and use consistent units and magnitudes. Date and timesAlways use numerals for dates and time.
Series of numbersIn any document that contains a lot of numbers, it is always better to write numbers as numerals. Always use numerals for:
This is regardless of the size of the numbers involved.
The anthology includes 160 poems by 22 poets – 14 of whom were born in Australia, 4 in New Zealand, 3 in England and 1 in Austria. The number of internet subscribers increased by 3.6%. Fibre connections grew by 22.4% and fibre growth for the year to June was 69.8%. If you have two series of numbers, for the sake of clarity you can use words for one series and numerals for the other.
Of the mothers of the 23 sets of triplets registered during the year, 8 had no previous children, 8 had one child and 7 had two previous children. [The first series uses numerals to break down the total number of triplets according to groups of mothers. The second series uses words for the number of children each group of mothers had already had.] Lists of steps and instructionsLists, points and instructions are easier to follow if written as numerals.
Age and school yearsAlways use numerals for age and school years.
In scientific contentYou can use powers of 10 for large numbers in technical content, such as science and engineering publications. Don’t use powers of 10 in general content.
2.5 × 106 is the same as 2,500,000 Use commas in numbers with 4 or more digitsNumbers from 1,000 need a comma. Separate the digits into groups of 3 (working from right to left). Don’t use a space or non-breaking space instead of a comma. This is because screen readers can announce spaced digits as separate numbers.
Combine numerals and words for large rounded numbersNumbers up to one million are easy to read as numerals. When you’re using rounded numbers of 1,000 or more, use commas to separate numerals into groups of 3 (working right to left). Use a combination of numerals and words for large numbers over a million when they are rounded. It is easier to read ‘2.5 million’ than ‘2,500,000’.
Billions, trillions and quadrillions:
Choose between numerals or words for currencyUse numerals and symbols for amounts of money.
However, money can be written entirely in words for approximations and figures of speech.
Release notesThe digital edition updates the rule for using words for numbers in paragraph text. It recommends using words only for zero and one, and using numerals for other numbers. Government content that follows journalistic conventions is treated as an exception. Expert advice has informed this change from the sixth edition. The change reflects accessibility considerations and style for numbers in contemporary digital content. The sixth edition recommended using words up to 100 (in general text) or words up to 9, and then numerals (in statistically oriented text). The digital edition retains the rule to start a sentence with a word rather than a numeral and lists some other exceptions to the new general rule, consistent with sixth edition guidance. The digital edition retains the sixth edition rule about using numerals in tables and technical content. It also retains the rules about using words for common expressions and to begin sentences. The sixth edition rule about using a mixture of words and numerals for large numbers also appears in the digital edition. The Content Guide recommended numerals for all numbers, including zero and one, noting a few exceptions to the rule.
Bohm T (2 December 2019) Letter and symbol misrecognition in highly legible typefaces for general, children, dyslexic, visually impaired and ageing readers,Typography, accessed 2 June 2020. GOV.UK (2016) A-to-Z: numbers’, Style guide, GOV.UK, accessed 2 June 2020. ReferencesAmerican Psychological Association (2020) ‘Numbers’, Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edn, American Psychological Association, Washington DC. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2020) ‘Numbers, measurements’, The ABC style guide, ABC website, accessed 3 June 2020. Btb Translation Bureau (2020) ‘Numerical expressions’, The Canadian style, Btb Translation Bureau website, accessed 3 June 2020. ChicContent Design London (2019) ‘Grammar points: numbers’, Content Design London readability guidelines, Content Design London website, accessed 3 June 2020. European Commission (2020) ‘6: Numbers’, English style guide: a handbook for authors and translators in the European Commission, European Commission website, accessed 3 June 2020. General Services Administration (n.d) ‘Numbers and percentages’, 18F content guide, 18F Content Guide website, accessed 3 June 2020. Loranger H (23 March 2014) ‘Break grammar rules on websites for clarity’, Nielsen Norman Group, accessed 3 June 2020. New Zealand Government (2020) ‘Numbers’, Content design guidance, Digital.govt.nz, accessed 3 June 2020. NSW Government (2020) ‘Numbers, dates and times’, digital.nsw, accessed 17 September 2021. Oxford University Press (2016) ‘11.2.2: Figures or words?’, New Oxford style manual, Oxford University Press, Oxford. TechCommNZ (May 2016) ‘Five or 5? Words versus numerals ...’, TelecommNZ Newsletter, accessed 3 June 2020. Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (2018) '4.6: Numbers', Canada.ca content style guide, Canada.ca, accessed 3 June 2020. University of Chicago (2017) 'Numbers', Chicago manual of style, 17th edn, University of Chicago Press, Chicago. US Government Publishing Office (2016) ‘Numerals’, Government Publishing Office style manual, U.S. Government Publishing Office, accessed 17 September 2021.
This page was updated Wednesday 5 October 2022. |