OST164Text Editing Applications

Section 4 – Numbers

Part II

Money (413)Use figures to express exact orapproximate amounts of money.

the amount of $13.50 a $50 bill

less than $90,000a $5,000-a-year account

When amounts of money from different countries arereferred to in the same context, the unit of currency appears as an abbreviation or symbol before the numerical amount.

US$10,000 (refers to 10,000 US dollars)Can$10,000 (refers to 10,000 Canadian dollars)€10,000 (refers to 10,000 euros)

Money (414-415)• Spell out indefinite amounts of money.

a few million dollars

many thousands of dollars

a couple of million dollars

several dollars

• It is not necessary to add a decimal point or zeros to a whole dollar amount that occurs in a sentence.

This model costs $12.50; that one costs $10. I owe Jamie $25.50, and I owe Joseph $15.

• In a column, if any amount contains cents, add a decimal point and two zeros to whole dollar amounts.

$500.98

$459.86

$700.00

Money (416)Money in round amounts of a million or more may be expressed partly in words.

$12 million 12 million dollars$10½ billion “or” 10 ½ billion dollars$6.5 billion 6.50 billion dollars

Express related amounts the same way. from $500,000 to 1,000,000

“not”

from $500,000 to $1 million

Repeat the word million, billion, trillion, etc. with each figure to avoid misunderstanding.

$5 million to $10 million “not” $5 to $10 million

Money (418)• For amounts under a dollar, use figures

and the words cents, unless it is just apenny = 1 cent

I will not pay 99 cents for this item.In 1901, sugar costs 4 cents a pound.This day and time, you can’t buy anything for 1 cent.

• However, when used as an adjective:These 50-cent tokens are old.

This 99-cent coupon will expire on Friday.

• Do not use the style $.xx in sentences except when related amounts require a dollar sign.

It will costs you $2.50 a copy to do the manual: $.50 for the paper, $.75 for the printing; and $1.25 for the special binder. (not .50 or .75)

Money (419-420)When using the dollar sign with a price range or a series of amounts, use thesign with each amount.

$5000 to $8000$10 million to $20 million

These three properties are valued at $850,550, $950,000, and $1,087,000, respectively.

In legal documents, amounts of money are expressed first in words and then, within parentheses, in figures.

•One Hundred Dollars ($100)•One Hundred (100) Dollars

At the Beginning of a Sentence (421-422)Spell out a number that begins a sentence, as well as any related numbers.

Thirty-four students came.

Eight hundred people have already called, which is two hundred more than expected.

If the number requires more than two words when spelled out or if figures are preferable for emphasis and quick reference, reword the sentence.

Two hundred and ninety-eight people came today. “OK”

There were 298 people who came today. “BETTER”

Indefinite Numbers and Amounts (423)

Spell out indefinite numbers and amounts.

several hundred investors

a few thousand acres

hundreds of inquiries

thousands of readers

a man in his late forties

a roll of fifties and twenties

Ordinal Numbers (424)

• In general, spell out all ordinal numbersthat can be expressed in one or twowords.

• A hyphenated number liketwenty-first counts as one word.

sales for the third quarter during the eighth inning

the twelfth juror one hundredth anniversary

in the twenty-first century at the eleventh floor

in seventh heaven the two millionth visitor

Fractions (427 a)

• Spell out a fraction that stands alone (without a whole number preceding).

one-half of the audience

two-thirds of the employees

a quarter pound of butter• Use figures if the spelled-out form is long and awkward,

or if the fraction is used in a technical measurement or some type of computation.

¾-yard lengths (not three quarter yard lengths)

5/32 inch (not five thirty-seconds of an inch)

Fractions (427 b and c)When a fraction is spelled out, hyphenate the numerator and the denominator unless either element already contains a hyphen.

five-eights (5/8) thirteen thirty-seconds (13/32)twenty-seven sixty-fourths (27/64)

In constructions involving the balancedphrases “one half” and the “other half,”do not hyphenate.

One half of the shipment was damaged.The other half was salvageable.One half of the instructors called in sick.The other half of the children may play.

Fractions in Mixed Numbers (428)– Use figures to express a mixed number; however, spell out a mixed

number at the beginning of a sentence.Our sales are now 4½ times as large.

– Do not mix ready-made fractions that the computer will automatically create (½-¼) with those that you have to construct yourself (7/8-5/16).

The rate has dropped from 5 3/5 to 5½.

– When a mixed number is followed by a unit ofmeasure, use the plural form of the unit.

1½ inches “or” 1.5 inches¾ inch

•

Measurements (429 b and 430)

Dimensions, sizes, and exact temperaturesare expressed in figures.

DIMENSIONSThe canopy's measurements are 12 feet by 14 feet. The classroom is 15 feet 6 inches by 30 feet 9 inches.

However, as an adjective:I am looking for a 4- by 6-foot rug.She wants a house that has at least a 13- by 15-foot kitchen.

SIZESPlease send me a half-dozen shirts, in size 17½-33. (Note: Don’t use the / as shown in the book)

TEMPERATURESThe thermometer now stands at 32oF, a drop of 5 degrees.

Also…When a measurement consists of several elements, do not use commas to separate the elements. The measurement is considered a single unit. YES: The package weighs 8 pounds 11 ounces.

NO: The package weighs 8 pounds and 11 ounces.