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Writing Skills

Brush up on your grammar and punctuation skills to polish your final drafts.

Use of Numbers

MLA Style

Spell out numbers between 1 and 9.

  • CORRECT: I'm taking two biology classes.  

APA

Spell out numbers between 1 and 100.

  • CORRECT: There are twenty-six stops on the tour.  

All Styles

Compound numbers should be hyphenated.

  • CORRECT: I read twenty-two pages last night.

If two or more related numbers are used in a sentence, one below 10 and one a bigger number, their use should be consistent. They can either be spelled out or written as numerals.

  • CORRECT: Our schedules are full this semester.  I'm taking two biology classes.  Jack only needs thirteen more hours to graduate.
  • CORRECT: Our schedules are full this semester.  I'm taking 2 biology classes.  Jack only needs 13 more hours to graduate.

If the numbers refer to two different things, they can be written differently.

  • CORRECT: One-third of surveyed students scored in the 70s on their midterm exam. 

Numbers at the beginning of the sentence should also be spelled out with the exception of years.  

  • CORRECT: 1994 saw the release of several blockbuster movies.

Simple fractions should be spelled out. A more complex fraction can be represented as a numeral unless it is at the beginning of the sentence.

  • INCORRECT: 1/2 of my paycheck goes towards rent.
  • CORRECT:  One-half of my paycheck goes towards rent.

Numbers should be used for dates, addresses, identification, page numbers, decimals and percentages, large fractional numbers, and expressing monetary amounts.

  • 06-19-1955
  • 354.983
  • $654.94

Numbers should be written as numerals when accompanied by abbreviations such as lb, in, mph, rpm, etc.

  • 30 mpg
  • 16 lbs

When the word o'clock is used, the word expressing time should be spelled out; otherwise, a.m., p.m. should be used with a numeral.

If neither o'clock or a.m./p.m. are used in the sentence, the time should be spelled out.

  • CORRECT: My meeting starts at four o'clock. 
  • CORRECT: The movie starts at 2:30 p.m.
  • CORRECT: The movie starts at two-thirty tomorrow.