use of numbers in writing, generally speaking
spell out numbers 1-9
use numerals for 10 & above
- correct: I ate two slices of pizza.
- incorrect: I ate 2 slices of pizza.
- correct: The family vacationed for five days.
- incorrect: The family vacationed for 5 days.
- correct: He played the game 14 hours.
- incorrect: He played the game for fourteen hours.
- correct: I have 11 cousins
- incorrect: I have eleven cousins.
exceptions to that spell out rule
- ages
- time & dates
- chapter & verse; scenes in plays
examples:
- Jack is 6-years-old. Notice the hyphenation.
- My dad was 96 last year.
- School starts at 8:10.
- I go home around 4 pm or later.
- Christmas always falls on December 25.
- June 14 is Flag Day in America.
- I read John 3:16.
- We were in Act 2, Scene 4.
for start of sentences; always spell out numbers
- Three days in a row in was 100 degrees!
- It was 100 degrees three days in a row!
- Fifty-five critters got out of the pasture.
- The pasture was missing 55 head of cattle.