Do you know when to use digits and when to write out the number in words? In this passage, I will be discussing with you the purpose, appropriateness, and styles that are associated with alpha and numeric numbers. Now let us look into how it originated and how the concept came into play.
There is really not one set standard in whether to write out alpha or numerically, and experts do not agree on one set rule. Some literal experts believe that any one word number should be written out and any two word numbers should be expressed in figures. According to 10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals, "they say you should write out twelve and twenty but not 24."(Rule 3) According to the same source, other experts state that you should spell out the numbers if they are smaller than 10. According to Mignon Fogarty in How to Write Numbers, some experts believe words should be used for the numbers one to one hundred and one to ten. (#2) Either way, grammar experts agree on that there should be "normalization" or a set standard for your writing. For example, writing in present or past tense, the writer is looking for uniformity. .
According to Rules for Writing Numbers, there are certain guidelines or "rules" that are associated for writing numbers. As there are rules for grammar there are rules for numbers in the English language, it is all dependent upon the style or format that is being utilized (i.e. AP, MLA, Chicago Manuel of Style, etc.). (#1) .
However, there are general rules that are associated for writing numbers that correlate with proper grammar usage. Numbers in the beginning of a sentence should always be spelled out, but can be numeric at the end of a sentence. For example: Six children complained of a stomach ache today, yesterday there were 5. Same general rules apply to fractions if it is used in the beginning of a sentence, except for when it is a mixed fraction.
