16
NUMBERS
Numbers aren’t used often in fiction, but when they are, they are often used incorrectly. The rules for numbers are fairly simple, however. Numbers can be written two ways: spelled out in letters (two) or written in numerals (2).
When to Spell Out Numbers
Spell out numbers one through one hundred, rounded numbers (hundreds, millions), and ordinal numbers (first, second, third). Spell out numbers in reference to age. Use numerals for all other numbers. Also, avoid starting sentences with numerals.
“She’s ninety-six years old!”
“One, I can’t understand why you hate me. And, two, I don’t like you either.”
“I need fifty copies of the flyer,” Megan said.
There were 5,500 seats in the auditorium.
Michael crouched down. “There are millions of ants here!”
Thirteen days later, the letter came.
“I am seventeen years, eleven months, and twelve days old.”1
Fractional Quantities of Large Numbers
When you have a fractional large number, numerals are used. Also, if there are two types of numbers in the same sentence, use numerals for consistency.
Approximately 7.4 billion people live on the earth.
Nonavian dinosaurs lived between 254 to 65.5 million years ago.
Numbers as Percentages
Use numerals for all numbers that are part of a percentage, except at the beginning of a sentence. Spell out the word percent unless stating a scientific or statistical fact. In that case, use the % symbol.
Most literary agents take a 15 percent commission.
I’d give them a 90 percent chance of success.
Twenty percent of my income goes to taxes.
My credit card has a 12.7 percent interest rate.
Only 20–35 percent of the attendees have been published.
The table shows that 18% of your students are planning to return to school next year.
When the experiment was repeated, 65% of the subjects were willing to obey instructions.
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers define a position in a series, such as first, second, third, etc. In most cases, you can spell out these numbers or use their abbreviated form (1st, 2nd, 3rd). Do not use superscript when using abbreviated forms.
“I’m first in line!”
Shelia lives on the twenty-second floor of the high rise.
Mark is ranked 114th overall.
My grandpa served in the 142nd Division.
Starting Sentences with Numbers
When a number or year begins a sentence, always spell it out rather than use numerals. If you prefer not to or the sentence sounds awkward, rewrite the sentence.
Twenty-four kids came to Johnny’s birthday party.
Two thousand five hundred students attend Skyward High.
Skyward High has 2500 students.
Nineteen seventy-five was the year of my birth.
I was born in 1975.
Punctuating Time
Always spell out the time of day unless you’re referring to the exact time, then use numerals. Use a.m. or p.m. with exact times.
Drew went to bed at five o’clock, exhausted from the tournament.
“Mom slept in, and I missed my nine-thirty appointment.”
“I get to work early since the bus comes by at 7:10 a.m.”
“Class starts at 8:35 tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.”
Punctuating Dates
Dates are written with numerals. Do not use ordinal numerals, though the dates may be pronounced as ordinals when reading aloud. Separate day and year numerals with a comma.
We moved on August 1.
“The photograph is copyright April 1942.”
“On January 1, 2000, there were no major fallouts due to the new millennium.”
When a day is mentioned without the month or year, spell out the number in ordinal form with letters, not numerals.
I was born on the sixth.
On the eighth of June, Mario and his family moved to America.
“By the fifteenth, finals will be over and we can focus on spring break.”
Do not use an apostrophe when pluralizing a decade.
It is incorrect to use an apostrophe to pluralize decades or abbreviations.
Movies made in the 1980s are the best.
I grew up in the ’80s and ’90s.
Use numerals when referring to pages, chapters, or parts of a book.
See page 27 of your textbook for today’s assignment.
In Chapter 3, I discuss common mistakes in fiction.