Articles

Avoid starting a sentence with a number. Restructure the sentence instead.

If you must begin a sentence with a number, use words not figures.

Preferred

Melbourne hosted the Olympic Games in 1956.

Twenty thousand people were affected by the natural disaster.

The natural disaster affected 20,000 people.

Avoid

1956 saw the arrival of the Olympic Games in Melbourne.

20,000 people were affected by the natural disaster.

Use figures for all units of measurement if using abbreviations for the measurement

14 kb

27 cm (not cms)

3 km

Notice there is a space between the numeral and measurement.

Use figures for units of time.

3.00 p.m.

3 o’clock

Fractions when isolated are spelt out.

When placed with a whole number, use figures.

The building is one-third finished.

We need 2½ times as much.

For ratios, always use figures.

The acid test ratio is 1.2:1.

Always use figures for ‘per cent’. Note that both percent and per cent are also acceptable.

9 percent

9 per cent

9% is only appropriate for tables or when the word is used consistently in the text.

Choose one figure and one text when two numbers follow each other.

The owner plans to build 2 two-bedroom homes.

Always use figures in tables.

Spell out first to ninth place in a list or race. Use figures for 10th onwards.

He got fifth in the race.

He was placed 22^nd in the world.

Use the word ‘zero’ in text and not ‘0’.

We have a zero defects policy.