Phil Druker/ Department of English/ UI  English317

Phil Druker , Department of English , UI

Numbers:  (APA Style)

When do you use words or numbers?

 The Basic Rule:  one through ten use words ;    11> use numbers. 

 Numbers can carry different meanings:

a million         1 million                1,000,000              1.0 x 10⁶                          1.000 x 10⁶

 Some details on using numbers:

→Use numbers for exact measurements:
12 cm
8 cm

→  Use numbers for consistency:
        … 3 of 20             … 2 of the remaining 20    … 2^nd and 11^th grades

→Use numbers for mathematical functions, percentages, ratios, specific data:
multiplied by 4
2 ½  times as often
5 %  or 5 percent  (use % for scientific reports, “percent” for other types of reports)

→Use numbers for time, dates, ages, exact sums of money:
    9:00 a.m.                                            $ 3
    January 5, 1998                                  2-year-olds                                        

→Use numbers for clarity:
         2 two-way filters

→Use numbers for table, figure, page numbers:
Table 2,  Figure 9

Some details on using words:

→ Use words for ideas that are not precise:
          two or three  steps           five trials (as opposed to trial 5)
          seven items                     eight pages (as opposed to p. 8)

→Use words to begin sentences:
          Fifty-five cases….

→Use words for common fractions:
          one half of a page                     a three-fourths majority

→Common dates/phrases
          Fourth of July        Ten Commandments

Note: Except in some legal documents, do not repeat numbers:

"Nine (9)" is not necessary

Back to tech writing main page