Division of Student Affairs

Numerals

When using two or more numbers in a single sentence, use all words or all figures. If one number in a sentence is 10 or more and so must be expressed as a figure, all numbers in that sentence that refer to like things must be expressed as figures.

Use figures:

1. For cardinal and ordinal numbers 10 or greater, and fractional numbers 10 or greater.
   Examples: There were four of us at the meeting. The correct answer is 14-1/2.
2. For hours of the day.
   Example: 1 p.m. (not 1:00 p.m.); 4:30 a.m.
   When used casually or emphasizing the exact moment of time, times of the day should be spelled out.
   Examples: Do you know it's after one? It was two o'clock before he went to lunch. If we hurry, we can catch the eight-fifteen train.
3. For dates (omit d, th, and st: the meeting will be on July 1, not July 1st).
4. For dimensions, distances, degrees of temperature, and percents in scientific use. In non-scientific use, follow normal guidelines.
5. For election results, times in races, scores, proportions, page numbers, chapters, street numbers, and serial numbers.
6. For sums of money (with $ or cents).
   Examples: $4,480, $24, $3.06, 5 cents
   The dollar sign is used on round sums of millions or greater.
   Examples: $1 million; $3.8 million; $2,350,000
   When citing even dollar amounts, do not use zeros.
   Examples: $5, not $5.00
   
7. For cumulative grade-point averages.
   Examples: 3.0, 2.5

Do not use figures:

1. For fractions that stand alone.
   Examples: one-third, three-fifths
2. At beginnings of sentences. Recast the sentence or spell the number out.
3. When writing rounded figures of 1 million or greater. Use the written word to replace the zeros.
   Examples: two million, 18-1/2 billion, five trillion
4. In casual uses, especially within direct quotes.
   Example: We had about a hundred students.