How to write numbers

In writing numerals may be spelled out or be represented by figures: Boing 567.

NOTE:

In writing, commas (but not full stops) are used to separate thousands: 100, 456; 1,000,000; 1,908,367,849.

Numerals in figures or in letters?

Although there is no definite rule, there are some guidelines that should be followed.

Usually most writers spell out numbers under 100 (as one, two, the third, forsevenyears, forty-five years old) and use figures for 100 and over (286 buildings). But large numbers are spelled out: The house was sold for $1 million.

A number that starts a sentence should always be spelled out, even if it is over 100: Three thousand forty-four voters selected Teresa.

Whenever mentioning parts of a book (page numbers, sections, chapters, exercises), figures are used: The teacher assigned exercise 12 on page 235.

In special or technical texts cardinals and ordinals should always be indicated by figures.

Calculations

Addition

In small additions, they usually say and for +, and is or are for = :

Two and two is/are four.

Six and five is/are eleven.

What’s the eight and six?

In larger additions (and in more formal style) they use plus for + and equals or is for = :

Seven hundred and twelve plus a hundred and forty-five is (equals) eight hundred and fifty-seven.

Subtraction

In conversational style, dealing with small numbers, people say:

Four from seven leaves/is three.

Seven take away four leaves/is three.

In a more formal style, or dealing with larger numbers, minus and equals are used:

Six hundred and nineteen minus four hundred and twenty-eightequals a hundred and ninety-one.

Multiplication

In small calculations, the most common approach is to say three fours, six sevens,etc, and to usearefor= :

Three fours are twelve.

Six sevens are forty-two.

In larger calculations, there are several possibilities. One way is to say times for × ,and is or makes for =:

Seventeen times three hundred and eighty-one is/makes six thousand, four hundred and seventy-seven.

In a more formal style, they say multiplied by and equals:

17 multiplied by 381 equals 6, 477.

Division

The simplest way is to use divided by and equals:

Two hundred and sixty-one divided by nine equals twenty-nine.

But in smaller calculations, people might say, for example:

Three into nine goesthree (times).

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1003