can you type numbers in an essay

When to Spell Out Numbers in Writing: Guide and Examples

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The Rules for Writing Numbers in English 

You may have noticed a theme when it comes to the English language: most rules are not standardized. This (somewhat frustrating) fact is especially true when it comes to spelling out numbers. Should you write them out in words or leave them as numerals? To write numbers properly, you will also need to identify potential differences between major style guides (such as MLA , APA , and Chicago , to name a few) because these guides often outline different rules for using numbers in writing.

To make it easier, let's use an example. Say you're working on a paper evaluating the importance of the local public library in your community. The document will make use of small numbers, large numbers, decades, and statistics. Each type of number may follow a different rule.

Thankfully, when using numbers in writing, you can count on a few conventions that apply to most situations; just be sure to consult your specific style guide if one has been assigned. If you don't have time to review each number yourself, a professional editor or proofreader can ensure that your numbers are written correctly.

Writing Small and Large Numbers

A simple rule for using numbers in writing is that small numbers ranging from one to ten (or one to nine, depending on the style guide) should generally be spelled out. Larger numbers (i.e., above ten) are written as numerals.

For example, instead of writing "It cost ten-thousand four-hundred and sixteen dollars to renovate the local library," you would write, "It cost $10,416 to renovate the local library."

The reason for this is relatively intuitive. Writing out large numbers not only wastes space but could also be a major distraction to your readers.

Beginning a Sentence with a Number

Here is a rule that you can truly rely on: always spell out numbers when they begin a sentence, no matter how large or small they may be.

Incorrect: 15 new fiction novels were on display.

Correct: Fifteen new fiction novels were on display.

If the number is large and you want to avoid writing it all out, rearrange the sentence so that the number no longer comes first.

Revised: There were 15 new fiction novels on display.

Whole Numbers vs. Decimals

Another important factor to consider is whether you are working with a whole number or a decimal. Decimals are always written as numerals for clarity and accuracy.

To revisit our library example, perhaps circulation statistics improved in 2015. If a number falls in the range of one to ten and is not a whole number, it should be written as a numeral.

Incorrect: The circulation of library materials increased by four point five percent in 2015.

Correct: The circulation of library materials increased by 4.5% in 2015.

Paired Numbers (Two Numbers in a Row)

When two numbers come next to each other in a sentence, be sure to spell out one of these numbers. The main purpose of this rule is to avoid confusing the reader.

Incorrect: There were 12 4-year-old children waiting for the librarian to begin story time.

Correct: There were 12 four-year-old children waiting for the librarian to begin story time.

Correct: There were twelve 4-year-old children waiting for the librarian to begin story time.

Decades and Centuries

Decades or centuries are usually spelled out, especially if the writing is formal.

Incorrect: The library was built in the '50s.

Correct: The library was built in the fifties.

If you are referring to a specific year (e.g., 1955), use the numeral.

Consistency Is Key When Using Numbers in Your Writing

Always strive for consistency, even if it overrides a previous rule. For example, if your document uses numbers frequently, it is more appropriate for all numbers to remain as numerals to ensure that usage is uniform throughout. Similarly, if a single sentence combines small and large numbers, make sure that all the numbers are either spelled out or written as numerals.

Incorrect: The library acquired five new mystery novels, 12 new desktop computers, and 17 new periodicals.

Correct: The library acquired 5 new mystery novels, 12 new desktop computers, and 17 new periodicals.

Style Guides May Have Slightly Different Rules for Writing Numbers in Words

Let's complicate things a bit, shall we?

If your work must follow the rules of a specific style guide, understand that various guides all have rules for spelling out numbers that may differ slightly from the rules listed above. For example, MLA style indicates that writers may spell out numbers if they are not used too frequently in the document and can be represented with one or two words (e.g., twenty-four, one hundred, three thousand ). APA style advises that common fractions (e.g., two-thirds ) be expressed as words. A number of specific rules for spelling out numbers are outlined in Section 9.1 of the Chicago Manual of Style.

Your ultimate authority will always be a style guide, but in the absence of one, following the rules outlined above will help you stay consistent in your use of numbers in writing.

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MLA Style Manual

Numbers and dates.

Dates in text should have a number rather than an ordinal.

April 6 (not April 6th)

Punctuate common forms of dates as follows:

April 1967 (no comma) April 6, 1967 (comma after day of month; insert comma after year as well in running text) 1968–1972 (en dash) May–June 1967 (en dash) 1965– (en dash for open-ended date) fiscal year 1958/59 (eliminate century in the second year if it is the same) school year 2004/05 (same as fiscal year) association year 2004/05 (same as fiscal year) 1970s (no apostrophe) the ’70s (apostrophe before year)

For months, use the following forms in references in all publications; do not follow with a period.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

In MLANET‘s “Find a Job,” use month/date/year format with numerals.

Use numerals, unless the year is at the beginning of a sentence. When referring to a decade, never use an apostrophe before the “s.”

enumerations

Numerical lists imply rank or temporal order (first 1, then 2, or 1 is more important than 2). Do not number if no such order is intended. In lists that are run together in the text and number more than three, use numbered phrases. Set numbers in parentheses without periods.

(1) etc., (2) etc., (3) etc., and (4) etc. then (a) etc., (b) etc., (c) etc., and (d) etc.

When items are indented without numbers, begin each new entry with a bullet, set flush left. When they are indented with numbers, the list is laid out the same way, but the bullet is replaced with a numeral and period.

1. etc.; 2. etc.; 3. etc.; and 4. etc.

Double-check alphabetical lists for correct order.

fractions and ratios

Hyphenate fractions:

A one-third share is sufficient. She filed one-third of the cards.

Ratios may be given with numerals and a colon:

a 1:2 ratio

mathematical symbols

Close up spaces around mathematical symbols such as equal signs and less than or greater than symbols.

n=243 p <0.05

measurements and dimensions

Spelling out measurements is preferred; when abbreviations are necessary, set them without periods.

20 km 30 ft

Spell out whole numbers. Use numerals with a multiplication symbol (×) in fractions.

three-by-five cards 2½ × 6-inch cards

Use the numeric form.

For currencies other than the US dollar, use the following formats.

$36.50 CAD for Canadian dollars (spell out “Canadian dollars (CAD)” the first time it appears) £37.50 for British pounds €42.75 for euros

other well-known currencies

37.50 Sw. fr. (figure followed by appropriate abbreviation)

lesser-known currencies

95 Haitian gourdes (figure followed by full name of currency)

Use (n=) with the “n” lowercase.

Use a comma in numbers higher than 999, with the exception of page numbers and years. Abbreviate “number” as “no.” when necessary or permitted. Always use the numeric form of numbers with decimal places. For numbers less than one, use a zero preceding the decimal point.

In the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA), formerly the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association , text, spell out ordinal numbers less than 100:

third tenth forty-second 103rd 1,912th

In the text of MLAConnect articles, on MLANET, in monographs, and in other publications, abbreviate ordinals greater than nine. Spell out whole numbers in all publications’ text through ninety-nine:

one through 999,999 one million 101 million

In MLANET “Find a Job” ads, all numbers are represented in numeric form.

Spell out and hyphenate fractions.

If any number in a paragraph requires numerals rather than spelled out numbers, (higher than one hundred, decimal, percentage, money, etc., excepting dates), set all the numbers in numerals.

The library in Johnson City received 124 loan requests during a 1-year period. The library in Smithfield, however, received 19 loan requests, and the library in Morgantown only 12.

Do not begin a sentence with a numeral. Write out the number in full, or recast the sentence.

Provide both numbers (n) and percents where applicable when reporting data.

(n=74, 56%)

If the denominator changes frequently, it is useful to present numbers as n=74/258; 29% unless the denominator is noted in the text.

Of 258 respondents, 74 (29%) indicated...

See also “abbreviations: when to use them” in the Abbreviations section.

percentages

In text, use numerals and “%.” Spell out the numeral and the word only if they begin the sentence. Where the percentage is less than 1%, add a decimal point and a zero.

89% One hundred percent of the students were in attendance. 0.7%

The following are a few common statistical terms; set them as indicated. Text should be used rather than symbols, except for statistics or formulas.

Do not use ditto marks (") for repeated items; supply the numbers. Provide numbers (n), with percentages (where applicable) in the next column in parentheses. Use an em dash to indicate entries that are not supplied or are irrelevant; use a zero to indicate that a particular universe has none of the items in question. Do not use “0%”; that is mathematically impossible. If both real numbers and percentages happen to be zero, give just the real number and no percentage.

In running text, refer to each table by Arabic numeral. Do not use “see”:

Students preferred electronic reserves to print reserves (Table 1).

See also “figures (illustrations)” in the Miscellaneous section.

telephone numbers

Use the following format:

312.419.9094 x743

Spell out the time of day in text for JMLA .

At seven o'clock, the family rose.

If an exact moment is emphasized, use numerals.

At 7:35 a.m., the family rose.

Always use numerals when “a.m.” or “p.m.” are used.

At 7:00 a.m., the family rose.

Set “a.m.” and “p.m.” close, with periods. Use time zones following a comma, lowercase.

The chapter meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m., central time.

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1, Two, or III? How to Format Numbers in Academic Writing

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• 4th April 2016

Whether it’s dates, survey results or statistical data, numbers and numerals play an important role in every field of academic writing . However, the best way to format numbers in academic writing is a contentious matter.

Words or Numerals?

One prominent issue is whether numbers should be written using words (e.g. one, two, three) or Arabic numerals (e.g. 1, 2, 3). Generally, the rule here is to write out numbers up to nine and use numerals for larger values.

Nevertheless, different systems have different rules ; for instance, while APA recommends using numerals for ten and up (or ‘10 and up’, if you prefer), the Chicago Manual of Style suggests spelling out all numbers up to one hundred (or 100).

There are other exceptions too, since very big numbers may require a combination of words and numerals, particularly if they’re more than three words long (e.g. ‘4.5 billion’ is clearer and more concise than ‘four and a half billion’).

Another good guideline is to always spell out numbers at the start of a sentence unless they’re a decimal or a date.

Tips on Punctuation

The main things to keep in mind here are commas and hyphens. Commas are often used to separate thousands in large numbers:

One hundred thousand = 100,000

Two million = 2,000,000

Using commas isn’t compulsory, but make sure to apply a consistent style throughout your work.

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In addition, you should hyphenate numbers when they contain more than one word (e.g. 42 = forty-two) or when they’re part of an adjectival phrase (e.g. ‘the seven-year itch’).

Dates, Years and Centuries

Years (e.g. 2012, 45-12 BCE) are almost always written using numerals, though dates can be presented either numerically (e.g. 03/02/16) or written out in full (3 rd February, 2016).

For the most part, it’s better to write out months as a word if a date appears in the main text of your essay . Likewise, you should always write out centuries in full in academic texts (i.e. ‘nineteenth century’, not ‘19 th century’).

When in Rome…

It’s helpful to familiarise yourself with the basics of Roman numerals . You won’t need them too often, but they are still used for things like the pre-body material in longer essays (e.g. contents pages), the titles of monarchs (e.g. Phillip III) and film credits (e.g. MCMLXVIII = 1986).

Technical Numbers

In technical writing, especially in the sciences and mathematics, it’s generally better to present numbers as numerals, particularly when dealing with decimals, percentages and fractions.

Furthermore, numerals are often preferable when a number is followed by a unit of measurement (e.g., ‘six centimetres’ can also be written as ‘6 cm’).

Again, however, the most important things are clarity and consistency, so the style you choose to adopt may depend on what you’re trying to communicate.

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MLA Style Guide

• How Do I Format My Paper?
• How Do I Format My Works Cited Page?
• In-Text Citations
• Using Numbers

Using Numbers in an Essay

Spell out numbers that can be expressed in either one or two words.  

•   one million
•   ninety-nine
•   one hundred
•   fifteen hundred

Always spell out the number if a sentence begins with a number.

Example: Two thousand twelve was an election year in the United States.

When Should I Use Numerals?

Use numerals if you are writing an essay about a scientific subject or an essay that includes frequent use of numbers, like statistical findings. 

Always use numerals:

•  in front of units of measurements. Example : 5 millimeters
•  with abbreviations such as 6 lbs., 4:20 p.m., $9, 2”, 4%.
•  in dates: Example: April 1, 2014
•  in decimal fractions: Example: 9.2

Exceptions:  

• For large numbers, you may use a combination of numerals and words. Example: 4.5 million
• In general use numerals with % signs, however, you may spell out percentages or amounts of money if you can do so in three words or less. Example: five dollars, forty-five percent, sixty-eight cents.
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In an essay, when do you spell out numbers and when do you use numerals?

According to APA Style, you should normally use numerals for the numbers 10 and above. You should use words to express numbers below 10 (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine).

Note, however, that APA lists a wide variety of exceptions. For instance, numbers that appear right before a unit of measurement should be expressed as numerals, regardless of where they fall, before or after 10. Example: Give him 5 cups of soup.

The APA also addresses this question directly in this webpage .

The sections in APA that address numbers are 6.32-6.39 in the 7th edition of the Publication Manual.

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Writing numbers When to use words and when to use numerals

It can be difficult to know how to write numbers in academic writing (e.g. five or 5 , 1 million or 1,000,000 ). This section gives some guidelines on when to use words to write numbers, and when to use numerals . There are also some exceptions to the rule which are considered, i.e. times when you might expect to use words but should instead use numerals. There is also a checklist at the end, that you can use to check the use of numbers in your own writing.

When to use words

In general, words should be used for zero to ten , and numerals used from 11 onwards. The same rule should be applied to ordinal numbers, i.e. use words for first, second up to tenth, and numbers plus 'th' (or 'st') from 11th onwards. However, it is always best to check what the accepted practice is at your university (or in your department/on your course), and remember that some common referencing systems have their own, different requirements, as follows.

• MLA . Use words if the number can be written using one or two words (e.g. three , twenty-seven ).
• APA . Use words for numbers zero to nine.
• Chicago . Use words for numbers zero to one hundred.

Before looking at when to use numerals (which is almost all other situations, see next), it is useful to look at important exceptions.

(1) When the number begins a sentence , you should use words , whatever the size of the number (though if possible, rewrite the sentence so the number is not at the beginning).

• Fifty respondents agreed with the statement.
• There were 50 respondents who agreed with the statement. [ rewritten sentence ]
• 50 respondents agreed with the statement.

(2) When expressing part of a very large round number , e.g. million, billion, you should use words for that large number part (it is common to use abbreviations m for million and bn billion ).

• The population of the earth is now in excess of 7 billion people.
• The population of the earth is now in excess of 7bn people.
• The population of the earth is now in excess of 7,000,000,000 people.
• The population of the UK is approximately 70 million.
• The population of the UK is approximately 70,000,000.

Conversely, numerals should be used rather than words, whatever the size of the number, when large and small numbers are combined , since this makes comparisons easier.

• There were 2 respondents in the first category, and 22 in the second.
• There were two respondents in the first category, and 22 in the second.

When to use numerals

Numerals are used for almost all other situations. These include the following.

• Measurements (e.g. 6 kg, 3 cm, 10 min, 2 hr, 3 days, 6 years, 5 decades )
• Currency (e.g. $10, £50, £60 billion )
• Statistical data , including survey data (e.g. A survey of participants revealed that 4 out of 5 students worked. )
• Mathematical functions (e.g. v 2 = u 2 + 2as )
• Decimals (e.g. 2.5, 4.54 )
• Percentages (e.g. 75% )
• Ratios (e.g. 3:1 )
• Percentiles/quartiles (e.g. the 95th percentile, the 1st quartile )
• Times (e.g. 12.30 a.m., 6 p.m., 16:00 )
• Dates (e.g. Wednesday 25 December 2019 )
• Scores/points on a scale (e.g. This item scored 5 on a 9-point scale )

Other important points

The following are a few other points to remember when using numbers.

• Consistency. You should be consistent in how you write numbers; for example, if write a figure like 7bn in one place, do not write a figure like 5 billion in another.
• Use of commas. When giving numerals of 1,000 or larger, use commas for each thousand, e.g. 5,500, 8,326,500 .
• Use of hyphens. When displaying a range, use a hyphen, with no space, e.g. 30%–50%
• Expressing fractions. Fractions can be written either as numerals e.g. 2/3 or words e.g. two-thirds . If using words, use a hyphen.

American Psychological Association (2019a) Numbers Expressed in Words . Available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/numbers/words (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

American Psychological Association (2019b) Numbers Expressed in Numerals . Available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/numbers/numerals (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

Harvard Wiki (2019) Numbers . Available at: https://wiki.harvard.edu/confluence/display/HSG/Numbers . (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

University of Bristol (2015) Using numbers . Available at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_33.htm (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

University of New England (nd) Numbers in academic writing . Available at: https://aso-resources.une.edu.au/academic-writing/miscellaneous/numbers/ (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

University of Oxford (2015) Style Guide . Available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/media_wysiwyg/University%20of%20Oxford%20Style%20Guide.pdf (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

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Below is a checklist for using numbers in academic writing. Use it to check your writing, or as a peer to help.

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One, 2, III: Using Numbers in Academic Writing

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• 28th December 2015

No matter what you’re studying, at some point in your academic career you’ll find yourself using numbers in your written work .

This might not seem too problematic, but there are important differences between using numbers in formal academic writing and in everyday life.

Numerals or Words?

The biggest question when it comes to numbers in academic writing is whether to use numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) or words (one, two, three, four, etc.). The general guideline is to write smaller numbers up to ten as words, with numerals saved for larger numbers.

Annoyingly, there is no consensus on this. For instance, the APA Style Guide recommends using numerals for ten and up (or “10 and up,” if we’re doing this the APA way). But the Chicago Manual of Style suggests spelling out all numbers up to one hundred.

The important thing is to check your school’s style guide and use a consistent system throughout each paper you write.

Roman Numerals

You may also need to understand Roman numerals . These aren’t so common these days, but you do see them in things like copyright dates (MCMLXXXVI = 1986) and the names of monarchs (Queen Elizabeth II).

Big Numbers

Despite the above rule, some bigger numbers are expressed either as words or as a combination of words and figures. For example, it is to say:

The Earth is 4.542 billion years old.

But writing this out in numerals is a bit confusing, as there are many zeroes:

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The Earth is 4,542,000,000 years old.

Commas and Hyphens

Punctuating numbers correctly is also important. When expressing a number over one thousand, for example, it’s common to separate the thousands with a comma:

One thousand = 1,000

One hundred thousand = 100,000

One million = 1,000,000

Hyphens, meanwhile, should be used either when expressing a number with more than one word (e.g., twenty-two) or when as part of an adjectival phrase modifying a noun (e.g., “I’m holding a seven-year-old grudge”).

Dates, Years and Centuries

Dates (e.g., 06/12/2013 or 6 December 2013) and years (e.g., 1948, 300-250 BCE) are usually written using numerals. Centuries, however, should be written out in full (i.e., “eighteenth century” rather than “18 th century”).

Technical Numbers

In technical writing, such as in the sciences and math, it’s more common to use numerals than words. This is especially true when a number is followed by a unit of measurement. So, for instance, the weight “four grams” could be expressed as “4 g” or “4 grams.”

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Writing academically: Numbers

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When using numbers in academic writing you need to decide if it’s more appropriate to use a numeral (e.g. 9) or to write the number in words (e.g. nine). It’s worth checking to see if your department has specific advice on this matter, because individual approaches do vary. In the absence of specific advice, here is some general guidance on the matter:

Basic numbers

• Numbers  up to nine  should always be written in  words,  anything higher than nine can be written in numerals. Alternatively, some guides suggest that if you can write the number in two words or fewer then use words rather than numerals. If you are going to take this approach then you should include a hyphen when writing numbers with two words, e.g. twenty-seven.
• For larger numbers, it is acceptable to use either numerals or words depending on context (e.g. a thousand people/1,000 people), but you should always use numerals in technical writing, e.g. 200,000 km. For less precise larger numbers, the written form is better (e.g. several thousand).

Measurements and decimals/fractions

• Use numerals for units of measurement or time, e.g. 500 km, 10 minutes.
• Always use numerals for decimals and fractions (e.g. 0.5 cm) unless the figures are vague (e.g. around half of the population).
• Units of measurement that modify a noun should be hyphenated, e.g. a 3-year-old child.

Dates, money and time

• Always use numerals for dates, e.g Monday 4 April, 2016.
• Use numerals for money (e.g. His pocket money was exactly £1.00 per week) unless the amounts are vague (e.g. He earned well over a million last year).
• Use numerals for indicating the precise time (e.g. 08:00), or words if the times indicated are vague (e.g. around eight o’clock). 

Combining numbers

• If you need to combine two numbers that run together then use words for the shorter number and numerals for the longer number, e.g. a tower of 1000 ten-pence pieces. 

Starting sentences with numbers

• Avoid starting a sentence with a numeral. Either write the number in words or rearrange your sentence. For example, “Three hundred and sixty-five days make one year” could become “There are 365 days in a year”. If you start a sentence with a year, write “The year” first e.g. “The year 1066 saw one of the most famous battles in English history”.
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A Quick Guide to Numbers in MLA Style

• Nov 05, 2020
• Academic Editing
• Proofreading Tips
• Referencing and Citations

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Your client might not know all the details of MLA style. As an academic proofreader, then, your work may involve checking that documents follow MLA conventions. Thus, in this post, we’re looking at how to present numbers in academic writing according to MLA style.

Numbers in MLA: Numerals or Words?

MLA style sets out two approaches to numbers. In writing that involves few numbers , the MLA Handbook advises spelling out numbers that can be written as one or two words:

o ne, thirty-six, ninety-nine, one hundred, three million

It also says that plurals of spelled-out numbers should be treated as nouns:

fives, thirties

Other numbers, however, should be presented as numerals:

5¾, 305, 643, 2,798

For writing that uses numbers frequently , meanwhile, the MLA advises:

• Using numerals with units of measurement (e.g. 55 centimetres , 800 grams ) and other numbers presented alongside them (e.g. comparisons or reports of experimental data).
• Expressing larger numbers as a mix of numerals and words (e.g. 7 million , 1.4 billion ).
• Other numbers should be spelled out if they can be written as one or two words.

In both approaches, the MLA also advises using numerals for:

• Numbers used with abbreviations or symbols (e.g. 8kg , 6:00am , £7.90 ).
• Addresses (e.g. 635 New Street , 81 5 th Street ).
• Items in a numbered series (e.g. Year 5 , chapter 3 , volume 4 ).
• Dates (e.g. 10 September 2020 , 5 August 1996 ).
• Decimal fractions (e.g. 5.6 , 3.142 ).

In addition, in both styles, numbers should be spelled out at the start of a sentence (or the sentence should be rephrased to avoid starting with a number). When proofreading, then, make sure the guidelines above are applied consistently according to the document type.

Commas in Numbers

MLA style recommends placing a comma after every third digit in large numbers. For example:

However, commas are not used in page and line numbers , addresses , or four-digit years .

Page Ranges in MLA Style

For a range of page numbers in a citation or the Works Cited list, the MLA says to write the second value in the range in full for numbers up to 99. For example:

For larger numbers, though, only the last two digits of the second number should be given. The exception is when more are necessary for clarity:

The rules for years are a little different. If a range of years begins AD 1000 or later, MLA says to omit the first two digits of the second year if they are the same as the first two digits of the first year. Otherwise, though, you should make sure both years are written in full:

If the years discussed fall between AD 1 and 999, though, follow the general rules for inclusive numbers. And make sure ranges of years that begin before AD 1 are written in full.

Punctuating Number Ranges

In published work, MLA follows the convention of using an en dash for number ranges:

She spent her most productive period (1907 –1912) in Amsterdam.

However, for simplicity, MLA also permits a hyphen for number ranges in student writing:

She spent her most productive period (1907- 1912) in Amsterdam.

If you’re proofreading student work, then, there is no need to replace hyphens in number ranges. You can simply check that ranges are punctuated consistently.

Roman Numerals

Finally, the MLA Handbook also has a few rules for using Roman numerals :

• Capitalised Roman numerals are used for the primary divisions in an essay or book outline and as suffixes for the names of persons (e.g. Part I , Henry VII ).
• Lowercase Roman numerals are only used when citing pages that are so numbered (e.g. in the preface or introduction of a book), with ranges written out in full (e.g. xxv –xxviii , iv –xii ).

If you see Roman numerals in a document, make sure they follow these conventions.

Becoming A Proofreader

Here, we’ve seen what to look out for when proofreading numbers in a document that uses MLA style. But you can learn all about style guides, formatting, and proofreading in general with our Becoming A Proofreader course! Sign up for a free trial today to find out more.

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Rules for Writing out Numbers

Reviewing the Rules

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Why do so many people find it difficult to remember the rules for using numbers in formal writing ? Probably because the rules seem a little fuzzy sometimes.

So what can you do? It's no mystery: as with anything, read and study the rules several times, and it will all seem natural, eventually.

Writing Numbers One through Ten

Spell out numbers one through ten, as in this example:

• My little brother ate four apples before dinner and became ill.
• Why do parents always check to see if babies have ten toes?

Writing Numbers Above Ten

Spell out numbers above ten, unless writing the number would involve using more than two words. For example:

• I have sixty-three dead bugs in my collection.
• My cousin has 207 bugs in his.
• This site has given me a thousand helpful hints for my homework.
• My grandmother is seventy-two today.
• My little sister had about 4,763 measles on her face.

Always Spell Out Numbers that Begin Sentences

It would look odd to begin a sentence with a numeral.

• Four hundred fifty people attended the birthday party.

However, you should try to avoid using long, clunky numbers at the beginning of a sentence. Instead of writing that four hundred and fifty people attended a party, you could re-write:

• There were 450 people at the party.

Dates, Phone Numbers, and Time

Use numbers for dates:

• My birthday is on March 16.
• He was born on Valentines Day, 1975.

And use numbers for phone numbers:

• The phone number for the school is 800-555-6262
• The international code for England is 44.

And use numbers for telling time if using a.m. or p.m.:

• The alarm will sound at 7 p.m.
• I make my bed at 7 a.m. each morning.

But spell out times when using "o'clock" or when the a.m. or p.m. are omitted:

• The alarm will sound at seven o'clock.
• I make my bed at seven each morning.
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How much does business insurance cost?

In a nutshell

The average annual cost of a business owners policy (BOP) is $684. However, this can vary based on multiple factors, including the business’ size, location, number of employees and value of any property it owns.

• Business insurance provides coverage for theft, fire damage, liability and other financial risks.
• A local, independent agent can help you get coverage that works for your budget.

How does business insurance work?

Business insurance provides financial protection against risks that are common to small businesses. These risks include:

• Theft of business property.
• Damage to business property damage from fires, storms or vandalism.
• Liabilities related to business operations. For example, it covers liability if a customer slips on a business’ floor and is injured.
• Income lost if the business is unable to operate due to a covered event like fire damage.
• Employees’ job-borne injuries and illnesses.
• Liabilities related to the company’s vehicles and drivers.

Specific coverage needs vary depending on the type and size of the business and how it operates. For example, a plumbing company that works in three counties with 12 employees driving company vehicles and using company tools will have very different needs than a baker with no employees and a single retail location.

Types of business insurance

There are several types of business insurance, each suitable for businesses of different types and sizes.

• General liability (GL) insurance: Provides coverage if a business causes bodily injury or death, property damage, reputational harm or advertising injuries such as copyright infringement.
• Business property insurance: Protects a business financially in the event of theft, damage or other loss to business-owned property.
• Business interruption coverage: Reimburses lost business income if storm damage, theft, vandalism or some other catastrophe forces the business to shut down operations.
• Business owners policy (BOP): A “package” of GL, business property and business interruption coverage. It’s usually marketed to small- to medium-sized businesses.
• Commercial auto insurance: Coverage for company vehicles, whether they’re owned, leased or rented. While similar to a personal auto policy, commercial auto insurance is tailored to the needs of a business.
• Commercial umbrella insurance: Additional liability coverage that kicks in if a claim exceeds a business policy’s GL limits.
• Cybersecurity insurance: Coverage for costs related to cyberattacks, including recovery and replacement of lost/stolen data, customer notification and legal counsel.
• Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI): Covers a business if it’s sued by current or former employees for issues such as discrimination, wrongful termination or harassment.
• Inland marine insurance: Covers business property that’s transported overland by truck, train or other method.
• Product liability insurance: Covers a business in case its products injure a customer or other third party.
• Workers' compensation insurance: Provides coverage of medical expenses, lost wages and rehabilitation if an employee is injured or becomes ill on the job.

Average cost of insurance for small businesses

The online insurance agency Insureon publishes the average cost of various business insurance coverages. These costs are based on pricing data from the company’s own customers.

Again, these figures are averages based on Insureon’s customers. Your pricing could vary significantly from what is shown here.

Factors that affect the cost of small business insurance

No two businesses are exactly alike, and no two businesses have identical insurance needs. Your cost for small business insurance will thus be affected by several factors, including the following:

• Coverage choices: Your coverage choices are a major determinant of your insurance cost. A business with more extensive coverage needs will likely pay more than one with fewer needs.
• Claim history: A business with a long history of insurance claims will almost definitely pay more for coverage.
• Type of business and industry: The type of business affects the cost of insurance.

A business that interacts with the general public in retail locations may have higher liability costs than one with little public exposure. Or a business with a fleet of delivery vehicles and drivers will likely pay more than one that does not use vehicles.

Other operational details

The number of employees, annual revenue, amount of inventory kept onsite, amount of property owned (not only real estate, but equipment, electronics, furniture, etc.) can all affect the cost of insurance.

Businesses in areas with a high crime rate or in areas with heavy public traffic may pay more for coverages such as business property.

Requirements

Most states require businesses with more than one employee to provide workers compensation coverage. Similarly, most states require businesses that operate vehicles on public roads to have commercial auto insurance. Local laws may require certain businesses to have GL coverage.

How to manage and lower your small business insurance costs

There are numerous ways to save money on business insurance.

Bundle coverage

A BOP policy combines three essential coverages — GL, business property and business interruption — into a more affordable package. There may also be other opportunities to bundle policies with a single insurer, which may help you save.

Review your coverage and risks

Make sure your business insurance accurately reflects your risk. If you don’t ship goods overland, for example, it may not make sense to have inland marine insurance. If your business doesn’t use vehicles, you may not need commercial auto coverage. An insurance agent can help you assess your needs.

Adjust deductibles

With all other things being equal, choosing a higher deductible will lower your insurance premium. This can be an effective way to save on insurance. Just remember that you’ll owe the amount of that deductible if you ever have a claim.

Ask about discounts

As with homeowners or car insurance, many insurers offer discounts for small business insurance. These may include discounts for paying the policy premium in full (rather than monthly installments), having no claims or being part of a group or profession.

Manage your risks

Many business insurance providers offer tools and guidance to help businesses manage their risks. Ask, and if yours does, use them. Using these tools can help lower your chances of filing a claim, and the insurer may agree to lower your premium.

How to get affordable business insurance

As a business owner and a consumer, you certainly owe it to yourself to look for ways to save money on insurance. The fact is that insurance is a key driver of our recent period of inflation, which is particularly true for car insurance, though many forms of property and casualty insurance cost more now than before.

Seeking out “no-brainer” discounts for things like paying in full make perfect sense as a way to save money. But use caution when adjusting policies, coverages, limits and deductibles. Remember that your business is at stake, and altering your insurance could put you at significant financial risk.

This is why it’s a good idea to work with an independent insurance agent. These are licensed professionals — and often fellow small business owners — who are dedicated to ensuring your business has the coverage it needs. Being local, they understand the municipal ordinances and other requirements in the places where you do business. And because they typically represent multiple insurers, they can shop around on your behalf to get you the best price.

The AP Buyline roundup

Insurance protects small businesses from a wide variety of financial risks. A business’ insurance needs will vary based on the size and type of business, its location, number of employees and other factors. An independent insurance agent can help a business get the coverage it needs at the best possible cost.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Can you negotiate business insurance rates.

Unfortunately, you can’t negotiate an insurance rate. An insurer’s method of calculating rates must be approved by each state where it does business, and it cannot alter those approved rates for one customer and not another. The insurer can, however, offer discounts for factors that are actuarially justified with data. For example, if the insurer has data showing that people who pay their policy in full are less likely to file claims, then it can offer those customers a discount. So while you can’t negotiate your way to a lower price, you should ask if you qualify for any discounts.

What are policy limits and how do they affect business insurance costs?

In insurance, a limit is the maximum amount of money the insurance company will pay to settle a claim. You can choose policy limits when you buy insurance. Choosing higher limits means the policy will cost more, but it will provide greater coverage

A simple example: Say a business has general liability (GL) coverage with a $500,000 limit. The business is responsible for an accident resulting in $100,000 of property damage. Because the dollar amount of the damage falls under the policy’s limit, the insurer would fully cover the claim. If, however, the property damage was worth $600,000, the insurer would pay no more than $500,000. The business would be responsible for the remaining $100,000.

How much does business insurance typically cost?

A business owners policy (BOP) that combines general liability (GL), business property and business interruption coverages costs an average of $684 per year, according to Insureon.

Is business insurance a startup cost?

Insurance should be considered a startup cost for any business. Any business, whether new or mature, has financial risks it needs to protect against.

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Use the dial pad to make a call in Microsoft Teams

The dial pad can be used like a typical phone to make a call to a phone number. (You can also type in names or groups.)

As you enter names or numbers in the dial pad, a dropdown will display potential contacts to choose from.

Note:  This dropdown display is not available when using a laptop's touch screen to enter numbers on the dial pad. If your laptop has a touch screen, please use the keyboard to enter the numbers.

You can also check out the  First things to know about calls in Microsoft Teams article for more calling options and features.

Important:  You won't be able to make a 911 emergency call if Teams isn't connected to the internet.

Note:  If you don't see the option to dial a number, your org may not have purchased a  calling plan . But you can still make calls to other people in Teams.

Use the dial pad on your mobile device to dial numbers from your personal phone number and to make emergency calls to your country-specific emergency number. 

If you don't see the option to dial a number, your org may not have purchased a  calling plan . But you can still make calls to other people in Teams.

The first time you join a Teams meeting or call on an Apple device running iOS 14, you might see a message from your browser indicating that Teams is requesting local network access. This is due to a change in privacy enhancements for iOS 14. Teams needs local network permissions to support peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture in order to participate in meetings and calls.

Once you’ve accessed the dial pad, just enter the number you want to call.

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• Selling on Amazon
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Step-by-step guide for how to sell books online in 2024

Why sell books on online?

• Offer as many or as few books as you like without inventory constraints.
• Provide convenience for your customers—no traffic, no lines, and you're always open.
• Sell new or used books and offer a wide variety of genres, titles, and authors .

What types of books can you sell online?

• Used -Like new
• Used - Very good
• Used - Good
• Used - Acceptable
• Do pricing research before you buy. Used books can often sell for around half the price of a new edition, but factors like quality can drive down prices.
• Pay close attention to the book condition . If the condition isn’t acceptable, you could end up with unhappy customers.
• Check any guidelines for selling used books based on the channel where you want to list them.

Books without an ISBN

Learn the lingo:, international standard book number (isbn).

• Textbook sales tend to be seasonal with the highest demand at the start of a new semester, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t sell any right away.
• Do some pricing research on similar textbooks to figure out how to set price points.
• Take great product photos to help customers make informed purchasing decisions.

5 steps to sell books online

• Wholesalers
• Distributors
• Library sales
• Used book stores
• Estate sales
• Thrift shops

Step 3: Set prices

Did you know, you can manage prices automatically with ecommerce automation, step 4: figure out how you’ll fulfill customer orders.

• Use the right packing materials. Appropriate packaging could involve a combination of bags, craft paper, or bubble wrap.
• Protect book corners, edges, and dust jackets.
• When shipping more than one book, consider wrapping each one individually or using single book boxes for protection.
• For multiple books, you can place pieces of flat cardboard between each book.
• Books should fit snugly in the padded envelope or box, so there’s little wiggle room.
• Get the word out about your book business on social media.
• Increase your exposure through special promotions like seasonal sales.
• Offer digital deals and coupons.
• Start a blog or vlog.
• Send email campaigns and build a loyal following.

Use customer reviews as a source of social proof

• Creating great product listings
• Shipping orders on time
• Responding to customers and resolving issues quickly

5 tips for selling books in the Amazon store

1. Choose a selling plan based on your goals

2. research genres and categories, 4. choose the right fulfillment option, drive online sales for your products, helpful resources, frequently asked questions: selling books online, start selling today.

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