when do you type out numbers in an essay

When to Spell Out Numbers in Writing: Guide and Examples

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The Rules for Writing Numbers in English 

You may have noticed a theme when it comes to the English language: most rules are not standardized. This (somewhat frustrating) fact is especially true when it comes to spelling out numbers. Should you write them out in words or leave them as numerals? To write numbers properly, you will also need to identify potential differences between major style guides (such as MLA , APA , and Chicago , to name a few) because these guides often outline different rules for using numbers in writing.

To make it easier, let's use an example. Say you're working on a paper evaluating the importance of the local public library in your community. The document will make use of small numbers, large numbers, decades, and statistics. Each type of number may follow a different rule.

Thankfully, when using numbers in writing, you can count on a few conventions that apply to most situations; just be sure to consult your specific style guide if one has been assigned. If you don't have time to review each number yourself, a professional editor or proofreader can ensure that your numbers are written correctly.

Writing Small and Large Numbers

A simple rule for using numbers in writing is that small numbers ranging from one to ten (or one to nine, depending on the style guide) should generally be spelled out. Larger numbers (i.e., above ten) are written as numerals.

For example, instead of writing "It cost ten-thousand four-hundred and sixteen dollars to renovate the local library," you would write, "It cost $10,416 to renovate the local library."

The reason for this is relatively intuitive. Writing out large numbers not only wastes space but could also be a major distraction to your readers.

Beginning a Sentence with a Number

Here is a rule that you can truly rely on: always spell out numbers when they begin a sentence, no matter how large or small they may be.

Incorrect: 15 new fiction novels were on display.

Correct: Fifteen new fiction novels were on display.

If the number is large and you want to avoid writing it all out, rearrange the sentence so that the number no longer comes first.

Revised: There were 15 new fiction novels on display.

Whole Numbers vs. Decimals

Another important factor to consider is whether you are working with a whole number or a decimal. Decimals are always written as numerals for clarity and accuracy.

To revisit our library example, perhaps circulation statistics improved in 2015. If a number falls in the range of one to ten and is not a whole number, it should be written as a numeral.

Incorrect: The circulation of library materials increased by four point five percent in 2015.

Correct: The circulation of library materials increased by 4.5% in 2015.

Paired Numbers (Two Numbers in a Row)

When two numbers come next to each other in a sentence, be sure to spell out one of these numbers. The main purpose of this rule is to avoid confusing the reader.

Incorrect: There were 12 4-year-old children waiting for the librarian to begin story time.

Correct: There were 12 four-year-old children waiting for the librarian to begin story time.

Correct: There were twelve 4-year-old children waiting for the librarian to begin story time.

Decades and Centuries

Decades or centuries are usually spelled out, especially if the writing is formal.

Incorrect: The library was built in the '50s.

Correct: The library was built in the fifties.

If you are referring to a specific year (e.g., 1955), use the numeral.

Consistency Is Key When Using Numbers in Your Writing

Always strive for consistency, even if it overrides a previous rule. For example, if your document uses numbers frequently, it is more appropriate for all numbers to remain as numerals to ensure that usage is uniform throughout. Similarly, if a single sentence combines small and large numbers, make sure that all the numbers are either spelled out or written as numerals.

Incorrect: The library acquired five new mystery novels, 12 new desktop computers, and 17 new periodicals.

Correct: The library acquired 5 new mystery novels, 12 new desktop computers, and 17 new periodicals.

Style Guides May Have Slightly Different Rules for Writing Numbers in Words

Let's complicate things a bit, shall we?

If your work must follow the rules of a specific style guide, understand that various guides all have rules for spelling out numbers that may differ slightly from the rules listed above. For example, MLA style indicates that writers may spell out numbers if they are not used too frequently in the document and can be represented with one or two words (e.g., twenty-four, one hundred, three thousand ). APA style advises that common fractions (e.g., two-thirds ) be expressed as words. A number of specific rules for spelling out numbers are outlined in Section 9.1 of the Chicago Manual of Style.

Your ultimate authority will always be a style guide, but in the absence of one, following the rules outlined above will help you stay consistent in your use of numbers in writing.

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Rules for Writing out Numbers

Reviewing the Rules

• Writing Essays
• Writing Research Papers
• English Grammar
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

Why do so many people find it difficult to remember the rules for using numbers in formal writing ? Probably because the rules seem a little fuzzy sometimes.

So what can you do? It's no mystery: as with anything, read and study the rules several times, and it will all seem natural, eventually.

Writing Numbers One through Ten

Spell out numbers one through ten, as in this example:

• My little brother ate four apples before dinner and became ill.
• Why do parents always check to see if babies have ten toes?

Writing Numbers Above Ten

Spell out numbers above ten, unless writing the number would involve using more than two words. For example:

• I have sixty-three dead bugs in my collection.
• My cousin has 207 bugs in his.
• This site has given me a thousand helpful hints for my homework.
• My grandmother is seventy-two today.
• My little sister had about 4,763 measles on her face.

Always Spell Out Numbers that Begin Sentences

It would look odd to begin a sentence with a numeral.

• Four hundred fifty people attended the birthday party.

However, you should try to avoid using long, clunky numbers at the beginning of a sentence. Instead of writing that four hundred and fifty people attended a party, you could re-write:

• There were 450 people at the party.

Dates, Phone Numbers, and Time

Use numbers for dates:

• My birthday is on March 16.
• He was born on Valentines Day, 1975.

And use numbers for phone numbers:

• The phone number for the school is 800-555-6262
• The international code for England is 44.

And use numbers for telling time if using a.m. or p.m.:

• The alarm will sound at 7 p.m.
• I make my bed at 7 a.m. each morning.

But spell out times when using "o'clock" or when the a.m. or p.m. are omitted:

• The alarm will sound at seven o'clock.
• I make my bed at seven each morning.
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A Quick Guide to Numbers in MLA Style

• Nov 05, 2020
• Academic Editing
• Proofreading Tips
• Referencing and Citations

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Your client might not know all the details of MLA style. As an academic proofreader, then, your work may involve checking that documents follow MLA conventions. Thus, in this post, we’re looking at how to present numbers in academic writing according to MLA style.

Numbers in MLA: Numerals or Words?

MLA style sets out two approaches to numbers. In writing that involves few numbers , the MLA Handbook advises spelling out numbers that can be written as one or two words:

o ne, thirty-six, ninety-nine, one hundred, three million

It also says that plurals of spelled-out numbers should be treated as nouns:

fives, thirties

Other numbers, however, should be presented as numerals:

5¾, 305, 643, 2,798

For writing that uses numbers frequently , meanwhile, the MLA advises:

• Using numerals with units of measurement (e.g., 55 inches , 800 grams ) and other numbers presented alongside them (e.g., comparisons or reports of experimental data).
• Expressing larger numbers as a mix of numerals and words (e.g., 7 million , 1.4 billion ).
• Other numbers should be spelled out if they can be written as one or two words.

In both approaches, the MLA also advises using numerals for:

• Numbers used with abbreviations or symbols (e.g., 8lbs. , 6:00am , $7.90 ).
• Addresses (e.g., 635 New Street , 81 5 th Street ).
• Items in a numbered series (e.g., Year 5 , chapter 3 , volume 4 ).
• Dates (e.g., September 10, 2020 , August 5, 1996 ).
• Decimal fractions (e.g., 5.6 , 3.142 ).

In addition, in both styles, numbers should be spelled out at the start of a sentence (or the sentence should be rephrased to avoid starting with a number). When proofreading, then, make sure the guidelines above are applied consistently according to the document type.

Commas in Numbers

MLA style recommends placing a comma after every third digit in large numbers. For example:

However, commas are not used in page and line numbers , addresses , or four-digit years .

Page Ranges in MLA Style

For a range of page numbers in a citation or the Works Cited list, the MLA says to write the second value in the range in full for numbers up to 99. For example:

For larger numbers, though, only the last two digits of the second number should be given. The exception is when more are necessary for clarity:

The rules for years are a little different. If a range of years begins AD 1000 or later, MLA says to omit the first two digits of the second year if they are the same as the first two digits of the first year. Otherwise, though, you should make sure both years are written in full:

If the years discussed fall between AD 1 and 999, though, follow the general rules for inclusive numbers. And make sure ranges of years that begin before AD 1 are written in full.

Punctuating Number Ranges

In published work, MLA follows the convention of using an en dash for number ranges:

She spent her most productive period (1907 –1912) in Amsterdam.

However, for simplicity, MLA also permits a hyphen for number ranges in student writing:

She spent her most productive period (1907- 1912) in Amsterdam.

If you’re proofreading student work, then, there is no need to replace hyphens in number ranges. You can simply check that ranges are punctuated consistently.

Roman Numerals

Finally, the MLA Handbook also has a few rules for using Roman numerals :

• Capitalized Roman numerals are used for the primary divisions in an essay or book outline and as suffixes for the names of persons (e.g., Part I , Henry VII ).
• Lowercase Roman numerals are only used when citing pages that are so numbered (e.g., in the preface or introduction of a book), with ranges written out in full (e.g., xxv –xxviii , iv –xii ).

If you see Roman numerals in a document, make sure they follow these conventions.

Becoming A Proofreader

Here, we’ve seen what to look out for when proofreading numbers in a document that uses MLA style. But you can learn all about style guides, formatting, and proofreading in general with our Becoming A Proofreader course! Sign up for a free trial today to find out more.

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In an essay, when do you spell out numbers and when do you use numerals?

According to APA Style, you should normally use numerals for the numbers 10 and above. You should use words to express numbers below 10 (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine).

Note, however, that APA lists a wide variety of exceptions. For instance, numbers that appear right before a unit of measurement should be expressed as numerals, regardless of where they fall, before or after 10. Example: Give him 5 cups of soup.

The APA also addresses this question directly in this webpage .

The sections in APA that address numbers are 6.32-6.39 in the 7th edition of the Publication Manual.

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• Last Updated Dec 12, 2022
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• Answered By Ashley Librarian

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MLA Style Manual

Numbers and dates.

Dates in text should have a number rather than an ordinal.

April 6 (not April 6th)

Punctuate common forms of dates as follows:

April 1967 (no comma) April 6, 1967 (comma after day of month; insert comma after year as well in running text) 1968–1972 (en dash) May–June 1967 (en dash) 1965– (en dash for open-ended date) fiscal year 1958/59 (eliminate century in the second year if it is the same) school year 2004/05 (same as fiscal year) association year 2004/05 (same as fiscal year) 1970s (no apostrophe) the ’70s (apostrophe before year)

For months, use the following forms in references in all publications; do not follow with a period.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

In MLANET‘s “Find a Job,” use month/date/year format with numerals.

Use numerals, unless the year is at the beginning of a sentence. When referring to a decade, never use an apostrophe before the “s.”

enumerations

Numerical lists imply rank or temporal order (first 1, then 2, or 1 is more important than 2). Do not number if no such order is intended. In lists that are run together in the text and number more than three, use numbered phrases. Set numbers in parentheses without periods.

(1) etc., (2) etc., (3) etc., and (4) etc. then (a) etc., (b) etc., (c) etc., and (d) etc.

When items are indented without numbers, begin each new entry with a bullet, set flush left. When they are indented with numbers, the list is laid out the same way, but the bullet is replaced with a numeral and period.

1. etc.; 2. etc.; 3. etc.; and 4. etc.

Double-check alphabetical lists for correct order.

fractions and ratios

Hyphenate fractions:

A one-third share is sufficient. She filed one-third of the cards.

Ratios may be given with numerals and a colon:

a 1:2 ratio

mathematical symbols

Close up spaces around mathematical symbols such as equal signs and less than or greater than symbols.

n=243 p <0.05

measurements and dimensions

Spelling out measurements is preferred; when abbreviations are necessary, set them without periods.

20 km 30 ft

Spell out whole numbers. Use numerals with a multiplication symbol (×) in fractions.

three-by-five cards 2½ × 6-inch cards

Use the numeric form.

For currencies other than the US dollar, use the following formats.

$36.50 CAD for Canadian dollars (spell out “Canadian dollars (CAD)” the first time it appears) £37.50 for British pounds €42.75 for euros

other well-known currencies

37.50 Sw. fr. (figure followed by appropriate abbreviation)

lesser-known currencies

95 Haitian gourdes (figure followed by full name of currency)

Use (n=) with the “n” lowercase.

Use a comma in numbers higher than 999, with the exception of page numbers and years. Abbreviate “number” as “no.” when necessary or permitted. Always use the numeric form of numbers with decimal places. For numbers less than one, use a zero preceding the decimal point.

In the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA), formerly the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association , text, spell out ordinal numbers less than 100:

third tenth forty-second 103rd 1,912th

In the text of MLAConnect articles, on MLANET, in monographs, and in other publications, abbreviate ordinals greater than nine. Spell out whole numbers in all publications’ text through ninety-nine:

one through 999,999 one million 101 million

In MLANET “Find a Job” ads, all numbers are represented in numeric form.

Spell out and hyphenate fractions.

If any number in a paragraph requires numerals rather than spelled out numbers, (higher than one hundred, decimal, percentage, money, etc., excepting dates), set all the numbers in numerals.

The library in Johnson City received 124 loan requests during a 1-year period. The library in Smithfield, however, received 19 loan requests, and the library in Morgantown only 12.

Do not begin a sentence with a numeral. Write out the number in full, or recast the sentence.

Provide both numbers (n) and percents where applicable when reporting data.

(n=74, 56%)

If the denominator changes frequently, it is useful to present numbers as n=74/258; 29% unless the denominator is noted in the text.

Of 258 respondents, 74 (29%) indicated...

See also “abbreviations: when to use them” in the Abbreviations section.

percentages

In text, use numerals and “%.” Spell out the numeral and the word only if they begin the sentence. Where the percentage is less than 1%, add a decimal point and a zero.

89% One hundred percent of the students were in attendance. 0.7%

The following are a few common statistical terms; set them as indicated. Text should be used rather than symbols, except for statistics or formulas.

Do not use ditto marks (") for repeated items; supply the numbers. Provide numbers (n), with percentages (where applicable) in the next column in parentheses. Use an em dash to indicate entries that are not supplied or are irrelevant; use a zero to indicate that a particular universe has none of the items in question. Do not use “0%”; that is mathematically impossible. If both real numbers and percentages happen to be zero, give just the real number and no percentage.

In running text, refer to each table by Arabic numeral. Do not use “see”:

Students preferred electronic reserves to print reserves (Table 1).

See also “figures (illustrations)” in the Miscellaneous section.

telephone numbers

Use the following format:

312.419.9094 x743

Spell out the time of day in text for JMLA .

At seven o'clock, the family rose.

If an exact moment is emphasized, use numerals.

At 7:35 a.m., the family rose.

Always use numerals when “a.m.” or “p.m.” are used.

At 7:00 a.m., the family rose.

Set “a.m.” and “p.m.” close, with periods. Use time zones following a comma, lowercase.

The chapter meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m., central time.

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MLA Style Guide

• How Do I Format My Paper?
• How Do I Format My Works Cited Page?
• In-Text Citations
• Using Numbers

Using Numbers in an Essay

Spell out numbers that can be expressed in either one or two words.  

•   one million
•   ninety-nine
•   one hundred
•   fifteen hundred

Always spell out the number if a sentence begins with a number.

Example: Two thousand twelve was an election year in the United States.

When Should I Use Numerals?

Use numerals if you are writing an essay about a scientific subject or an essay that includes frequent use of numbers, like statistical findings. 

Always use numerals:

•  in front of units of measurements. Example : 5 millimeters
•  with abbreviations such as 6 lbs., 4:20 p.m., $9, 2”, 4%.
•  in dates: Example: April 1, 2014
•  in decimal fractions: Example: 9.2

Exceptions:  

• For large numbers, you may use a combination of numerals and words. Example: 4.5 million
• In general use numerals with % signs, however, you may spell out percentages or amounts of money if you can do so in three words or less. Example: five dollars, forty-five percent, sixty-eight cents.
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• Last Updated: Aug 14, 2023 11:33 AM
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Numbers in APA

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Note:  This page reflects the 6th edition of the APA manual, which is now out of date. It will remain online until 2021, but will not be updated. There is currently no equivalent 7th edition page, but we're working on one. Thank you for your patience. Here is a link to our APA 7 "General Format" page .

In general, APA style recommends using words to express numbers below 10, and using numerals when expressing numbers 10 and above. See below for a more extensive list.

Numbers expressed as numerals

In addition to expressing numbers 10 and above, the following are other instances when you would use numerals rather than words:

Numbers mentioned in the abstract, a table, or a figure in the paper (this allows for brevity) 

This study consisted of 8 tests.

Numbers that immediately precede a unit of measurement

2.54 cm, 1.5 gal

Numbers that represent statistical or mathematical functions, fractional or decimal quantities, percentages, ratios, percentiles, and quartiles

Divided by 10

50% of the participants

a ratio of 10:1

the 10 th percentile

numbers that represent time, dates, ages, scores and point values on a scale, exact sums of money, and numerals

2 hr 30 min

50-year-olds

A 10-point scale

Exception: Use words for approximations of numbers of days, weeks, months, or years

Roughly six months ago

Numbers that denote a specific place in a numbered series, parts of books and tables, and each number in a list of four or more numbers

Illustration 1

Numbers expressed as words

In addition to using words to express numbers below 10, use words to also express:

Numbers beginning a sentence, title, or text heading

Fifteen participants were in the control group.

Common fractions

Three fourths of the population

Common phrases or groups

Seven Wonders of the World

The Three Musketeers

Other Rules Concerning Numbers

Here are a few more rules concerning numbers to adhere to as you follow APA style:

If you are using two modifiers against a noun, use a combination of both numerals and words

Three 5-point scales

If you’re unsure which modifier to write and which to express numerically, try it both ways. Be sure the way you express the numbers is in the clearest way possible.

Place a zero before a decimal fraction less than 1 if the statistic can exceed 1.

If the statistic cannot exceed 1, you do not need a zero.

For more specific guidelines, talk to your instructor or refer to the Style Manual.

When referring to a person’s age, do I use numerals or words?

To decide whether to use numerals or words to refer to a person’s age, follow the advice in sections 2.127 and 2.128 of the MLA Handbook .

In discussions where few numbers appear, spell out ages that can be written in a word or two (2.127). For example:

Johanna came to the United States from Germany in 2011, when she was twenty-eight years old. After living on the East Coast for nearly a decade, she moved to Los Angeles when she was thirty-seven. Marcia took a cruise to celebrate her seventy-fifth birthday.

Use numerals for ages when more than two words would be needed to spell out the age (2.127):

Born in 1922, Wallace will be 101 in October. The world’s oldest tortoise is 190 years old.

Use numerals for all numbers, including ages, in discussions where numbers appear frequently (2.128). For instance:

Students who completed the survey ranged in age from 12 to 21. Approximately 50% of those surveyed were between the ages of 14 and 19, roughly 30% were 19 or older, and just under 20% were 13 or younger.

MLA Handbook . 9th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2021.  MLA Handbook Plus , 2021, mlahandbookplus.org/.

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When to Use the Percent Sign in a Sentence (The Ultimate Guide)

By Erin Wright

To understand when to use the percent sign instead of the word percent , we need to look at the recommendations provided by all four of our primary style guides:

The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago style)

The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style)

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA style)

MLA Handbook from the Modern Language Association (MLA style)

Note that The Chicago Manual of Style is the default guide for the publishing industry, so strongly consider following Chicago style if you don’t have a designated guide. For additional information about each guide, visit “ Which Style Guide Is Best for You? ”

Before we begin, here are several tips for writing the percent sign regardless of which style guide you follow.

Four Tips for Writing the Percent Sign in a Sentence

1. Don’t include a space between the percent sign and the numeral.

Not-so-good: 15 %

2. When possible, rewrite sentences that start with a numeral and percent sign or add an introductory word or phrase so that the numeral–percent sign combination doesn’t appear at the beginning.

Not-so-good: 17% of the inventory was moldy.

Good: Unfortunately, 17% of the inventory was moldy.

3. Only use the percent sign with numerals, not spelled-out numbers.

Not-so-good: Over thirty-seven% of the county fair tickets were sold before opening day.

Good: Over 37% of the county fair tickets were sold before opening day.

4. Always pair the percent sign with a numeral; don’t use the percent sign as a standalone abbreviation for the noun percentage .

Not-so-good: Only a small % of voters requested mail-in ballots.

Good: Only a small percentage of voters requested mail-in ballots.

When to Use the Percent Sign according to Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago style) has separate recommendations for nontechnical and technical content.

For nontechnical content, Chicago style suggests using numerals and the word percent instead of the percent sign. However, if the number falls at the beginning of the sentence, it should be spelled out rather than written as a numeral. 1

The survey showed that only 9 percent of employees liked the company’s new cafeteria food.

Twenty-seven percent of the art students preferred pastels to colored pencils.

For technical content, Chicago style suggests using numerals with the percent sign. But, use the word percent if the number appears at the start of the sentence with a spelled-out number. 2

Of the 500 cats in the study, 17% refused to play with the research toys.

Ninety-five percent of the native trees and 75% of the feed crops survived the drought.

Nontechnical Content versus Technical Content

The line between nontechnical and technical content is sometimes blurry. For example, an article about astrophysics is most likely (very!) technical. However, simpler content, such as a marketing brochure for the general public, might still be considered technical if it includes a lot of numbers. In those borderline situations, choose the style you believe will best serve your audience.

When to Use the Percent Sign according to AP Style

The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style) recently updated its recommendations for using percent signs. Previously, AP style used the word percent with numerals. 3 Now, AP style uses the percent sign with numerals in formal content. 4

The charity drive collected 33% more donations this year.

If you are referring to a percent generically or casually, AP style suggests spelling out the number and using the word percent . 5

Bob said, “I thought I had about a one percent chance of finding my lost wedding band. But here it is.”

If a percent must appear at the beginning of a sentence, spell out the number and use the word percent . 6

Forty-seven percent of participants preferred ankle socks more than calf-length socks.

When to Use the Percent Sign according to APA Style

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA style) recommends using numerals with the percent sign within a sentence. 7

The grocery store saw a 42% increase in ice cream sales in July.

APA style also recommends using the word percent with spelled-out numbers at the start of a sentence. 8

Fifty-three percent of the moviegoers ate popcorn; 7% ate smuggled-in candy.

When to Use the Percent Sign according to MLA Style

The MLA Handbook (MLA style) recommends spelling out numbers and the word percent when they can be written in less than three words. 9

The professor was disappointed that only seventy-five percent of the class finished the assignment.

If the numbers can’t be written in less than three words, use numerals with the percent sign. 10

Home values increased 25.2% in the last year.

In number-heavy documents, the MLA Style Center recommends using numerals with the percent sign (although presumably not at the start of a sentence). 11

After training, 83% of the shelter dogs could follow sit and stay commands.

Related Resources

Three Tips for Starting a Sentence with a Number

When to Hyphenate Numbers with Units of Time

How to Write Large Numbers

• The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 9.18.
• The Associated Press Stylebook 2018 (New York: Associated Press, 2018), 221.
• The Associated Press Stylebook 2022–2024 (New York: Associated Press, 2022), 223.
• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed. (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2020), 6.44.
• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed. (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2020), 6.33.
• MLA Handbook , 9th ed. (New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2021), 2.131.

Updated June 24, 2022

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