GRAMMAR BASICS REVIEW

1.Writing NumbersThis section discusses numbers, how to write them correctly, and when to use numerical expressions instead.

Although usage varies, most people spell out numbers that can be expressed in one or two words and use figures for other numbers.

Note: If you are using a specific citation style, such as MLA or APA, consult the style manual for specific formatting instructions.

Wordsover two poundssix million dollarsafter thirty-one yearseighty-three people

Figuresafter 126 daysonly $31.506,381 soldiers4.78 liters

Here are some examples of specific situations.

Days and YearsDecember 12, 1965 or 12 December 1965A.D. 1066in 1900in 1971-72 or in 1971-1972the eighties, the twentieth centurythe 1980's or the 1980s

Time of Day8:00 A.M. (or) a.m. (or) eight o'clock in the morning4:30 P.M. (or) p.m. (or) half-past four in the afternoon

Addresses16 Tenth Street350 West 114 Street

Identification NumbersRoom 8Channel 18Interstate 65Henry VIII

Page and Division of Books and Playspage 30chapter 6in act 3, scene 2 (or) in Act III, Scene ii

Decimals and Percentagesa 2.7 average13.25 percent (in nonscientific contexts)25% (in scientific contexts)

1

GRAMMAR BASICS REVIEW

.037 metric ton

Large Round Numbersfour billion dollars (or) $4 billion16,500,000 (or) 16.5 million

NOTES ON USAGE

Repeat numbers in commercial writing.The bill will not exceed one hundred (100) dollars.

Use numerals in legal writing.The cost of damage is $1,365.42.

Numbers in series and statistics should be consistent.two apples, six oranges, and three bananasNOT: two apples, 6 oranges, and 3 bananas115 feet by 90 feet (or) 115' x 90'scores of 25-6 (or) scores of 25 to 6The vote was 9 in favor and 5 opposed

Write out numbers beginning sentences.Six percent of the group failed.NOT: 6% of the group failed.

Use a combination of figures and words for numbers when such a combination will keep your writing clear.Unclear: The club celebrated the birthdays of 6 90-year-olds who were born in the city. (may cause the reader to read '690' as one number.)Clearer: The club celebrated the birthdays of six 90-year-olds who were born in the city.

The Quantifiers: talking about numbers in EnglishCARDINAL and ORDINAL NUMBERSThe cardinal numbers (one, two, three, etc.) are adjectives referring to quantity, and the ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) refer to distribution.

Number Cardinal Ordinal

1 one first

2 two second

3 three third

4 four fourth

5 five fifth

6 six sixth

7 seven seventh

8 eight eighth

9 nine ninth

10 ten tenth

2

GRAMMAR BASICS REVIEW

11 eleven eleventh

12 twelve twelfth

13 thirteen thirteenth

14 fourteen fourteenth

15 fifteen fifteenth

16 sixteen sixteenth

17 seventeen seventeenth

18 eighteen eighteenth

19 nineteen nineteenth

20 twenty twentieth

21 twenty-one twenty-first

22 twenty-two twenty-second

23 twenty-three twenty-third

24 twenty-four twenty-fourth

25 twenty-five twenty-fifth

26 twenty-six twenty-sixth

27 twenty-seven twenty-seventh

28 twenty-eight twenty-eighth

29 twenty-nine twenty-ninth

30 thirty thirtieth

31 thirty-one thirty-first

40 forty fortieth

50 fifty fiftieth

60 sixty sixtieth

70 seventy seventieth

80 eighty eightieth

90 ninety ninetieth

100 one hundred hundredth

500 five hundred five hundredth

1,000 one thousand thousandth

100,000 one hundred thousand hundred thousandth

1,000,000 one million millionth

Examples There are twenty-five people in the room. He was the fourteenth person to win the award since 1934. Six hundred thousand people were left homeless after the earthquake. I must have asked you twenty times to be quiet. He went to Israel for the third time this year.

3

GRAMMAR BASICS REVIEW

Fractions and decimalsSaid Written Said

half 0.5 point fivea quarter 0.25 point two fivethree quarters 0.75 point seven five

PercentagesWritten Said

25% twenty five percent50% fifty percent75% seventy five percent100% a/one hundred percent

UnitsWritten Said

$1,200 one thousand two hundred dollars£16,486 sixteen thousand four hundred and eighty-six

pounds545kms five hundred and forty-five kilometres$25.35 twenty-five dollars thirty-five

YearsWritten Said

1988 Nineteen eighty-eight1864 Eighteen sixty-four1999 Nineteen ninety-nine

How to say '0'nought used in mathematical expressions and decimals:

'nought times three equals nought'0.3 = 'nought point three' (or 'point three')0.03 = 'point nought three'

zero used in scientific expressions, especially temperatures:20oC = minus twenty degrees ortwenty degrees below zero

also used to mean 'the lowest point':'The heavy rain reduced visibility to zero'

'o' (the letter)

used in telephone numbers:0171 390 0062 = 'o one seven one three nine o double o six two'

nil/nothing

used to express the score in games such as football:2 - 0 = 'two nil' or 'two nothing'

4