Writing Numerals

After different from vs. different than, Stacy wants to take me on about writing numerals!  Do you write them out (one as opposed to 1)?  If so, when?  What's the cut-off?

Here was my position:  numbers under 100 should be written out.  Stacy says that numbers under twenty ;-> should be written out.

Now, I admit that my position stems from my eighth grade English class in which my teacher handed down the under 100 rule.  I have no clue what her sources were.  In doing my own research, here's what I found.

According to The Elements of Style

Do not spell out dates or other serial numbers.  Write them in figures or in Roman notation, as appropriate.

    August 9, 1988                      Part XII
    Rule 3                                   352d Infantry

Exception:  When they occur in dialogue, most dates and numbers are best spelled out.

    "I arrived home on August ninth."
    "In the year 1990, I turned twenty-one."
    "Read Chapter Twelve."

Okay, that was helpful, but The Elements of Style really didn't answer the question of what's the number limit in writing out numbers.

Now on to Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers

Depending upon how often numbers occur in a paper and what they refer to, you will sometimes express the numbers in words and sometimes in figures. 

If conveying numerical exactness to your readers is not a prime purpose in your paper and if you mention numbers only a few times, you may spell out numbers that can be expressed in one or two words.

      Emma O'Brien was twenty-six years old when she emigrated to the United States.

      Iceland's population increases by more than one percent a year, but that gain translates into fewer than three thousand individuals.

Again, not as helpful as I would have liked.  Evidently, we can spell them out or use the numerical figure, as long as we're consistent.

Who wants to chime in?  Stacy, I know you do!

Comments

[Anne Ferguson]

I was raised in Canada and had English grammar pounded into my head. If my memory serves me right, you do have latitude with numbers under 20, especially in a sentence where you need to use more than one number, e.g.,
"You are entitled to two 1-hour sessions." That way, the eye differentiates between the two! As you have already expressed, it's a "judgment thing!"

[Dawn Goldberg]

Thanks, Anne. And your example was great! The rule of thumb that was pounded into *me* is that in the case of using two numbers next to each other, you write out the first and then use the numeral in the second, as you have done. We'll just continue to use our latitude with these squirrelly numbers!

Dawn

[Austen]

Where I work, we follow Chicago and the New York Public Library Writer's Guide to Style and Usage. Both say to spell out zero to nine and use numerals for 10 and above. I may be mistaken, but I think AP style is similar. I think lists begin to look unusual following this style. Example: She has five dogs, two cats, and 10 parakeets.
(I don't have any parakeets, btw.)

[Dawn Goldberg]

Austen,

Thanks for the reference (that's the second time in two days I've been referred to the Chicago Writer's Guide)!

In your example with the list (and why don't you have 10 parakeets? :-), I agree that it looks weird, and that maybe a good rule to follow in that case would be from Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers - just be consistent. :-)

Thanks for chiming in, Austen!

[Stacy Brice]

I offer this from Gregg--but there's so much detail under it that you'd really have to go look at it yourself. Gregg is really very specific, so if you want to *know* the rules, you want this. :)

Basic Rules:

The rules for expressing numbers would be quite simple if writers would all agree to express numbers entirely in figures or entirely in words. But in actual practice, the exclusive use of figures is considered only appropriate in tables and statistical material, whereas the exclusive use of words to express numbers is found only in ultraformal documents (such as proclamations and social invitations). In writing that is neither ultraformal or ultratechnical, most style manuals call for the usee of both figures and words in varying proportions. Although authorities do not agree on details, there are two sets of basic rules in wide use: the figure style (which uses figures for most numbers above 10), and the word style (which uses figures for most numbers above 100). Unless you deal with a very limited type of written communication, you should be prepared to use each style appropriately as the situation demands.

:)