|
Whether to express a number in numerical or written form seems
to cause some difficulty for business writers. The usual modern
rule is this: if the number is one to ten, spell it out. If higher,
use numerals. Many exceptions are self-evident, but one is harder.
If you refer to something as ten early in a sentence but later
will refer to a higher number of the same sort of item, you might
as well use numerals for consistency. |
OK: He ordered ten milling machines.
OK: He ordered 10 milling machines,
32 drill presses, and 4 lathes. |
|
Furthermore, no sentence should begin with a numeral. This rule
just makes good sense, for if the sentence before had ended with
a numeral, the reader might mistake the period for a decimal
point. |
Poor: I asked him if he was 38. 25 was
all he'd admit to.
Better: I asked him if he was 38. He
would admit to only 25. |