Editor's Corner

I hope you all enjoyed the weekend! Today I continue with tips on using numbers in your writing.

Rule #6

When writing out a number of three or more digits, the word and is not necessary. However, use the word and to express any decimal points that may accompany these numbers.

Examples:
two thousand four hundred twenty-five dollars
two thousand four hundred twenty-five dollarsandsixty-two cents

Rule #7:

When writing out a date, do not use ordinals. They aren’t necessary and they tend to cause formatting trouble if you have Microsoft® Word set up to insert them automatically.

Examples:
June 30, 1934 (no -th necessary)
Fourth of July (or Independence Day)

Rule #8:

When spelling out decades, do not capitalize them.

Example: During the eighties and nineties, the U.S. economy grew.

Bonus Round: If you are using numerals instead of words to talk about decades, the apostrophe goes before the numerals and you do not use an apostrophe before the “s.”

Examples:
I have always had straight hair, except in the ‘80s when I lost my sense and got a perm.
The outfits from the ‘50s and ‘60s still make popular Halloween costumes.

Spinal Tap: This one goes to eleven.

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

Symitar Documentation Services