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==Numbers== | ==Numbers== | ||
===Numbers as figures or words=== | ===Numbers as figures or words=== | ||
''See also information on specific situations, elsewhere in this guideline.'' | |||
Generally, in article text: | Generally, in article text: | ||
* Integers from zero to nine are spelled out in words. | * Integers from zero to nine are spelled out in words. | ||
* Integers greater than nine {{em|expressible in one or two words}} may be expressed either in numerals or in words ({{xt|16}} or {{xt|sixteen}}, {{xt|84}} or | * Integers greater than nine {{em|expressible in one or two words}} may be expressed either in numerals or in words ({{xt|16}} or {{xt|sixteen}}, {{xt|84}} or {{xt|eighty-four}}, {{xt|200}} or {{xt|two hundred}}). Numbers between 21 and 99 are hyphenated (including when part of a larger number): {{xt|fifty-six}} or {{xt|fifty-six thousand}} but {{xt|five{{nbsp}}hundred}} or {{xt|five{{nbsp}}thousand}}. | ||
* Other numbers are given in numerals ({{xt|3.75}}, {{xt|544}}) or in forms such as {{xt|21{{nbsp}}million}}. Markup: | * Other numbers are given in numerals ({{xt|3.75}}, {{xt|544}}) or in forms such as {{xt|21{{nbsp}}million}}. Markup: <code><nowiki>21{{nbsp}}million</nowiki></code> | ||
:* "billion" and "trillion" are understood to represent their [[Long and short scales|short-scale]] values of 10<sup>9</sup>{{nbsp}}(1,000,000,000) and 10<sup>12</sup>{{nbsp}}(1,000,000,000,000), respectively. Keep this in mind when | :* "billion" and "trillion" are understood to represent their [[Wikipedia:Long and short scales|short-scale]] values of 10<sup>9</sup>{{nbsp}}(1,000,000,000) and 10<sup>12</sup>{{nbsp}}(1,000,000,000,000), respectively. Keep this in mind when using material from non-English sources. | ||
:* {{xt|M}} (unspaced) or {{xt|bn}} (unspaced) respectively may be used for "million" or "billion" after a number, when the word has been spelled out at the first occurrence ({{xt|She received £70{{nbsp}}million and her son £10M}}). | :* {{xt|M}} (unspaced) or {{xt|bn}} (unspaced) respectively may be used for "million" or "billion" after a number, when the word has been spelled out at the first occurrence ({{xt|She received £70{{nbsp}}million and her son £10M}}). | ||
:*SI prefixes and symbols, such as | :*SI prefixes and symbols, such as '''mega-'''{{nbsp}}('''M'''), '''giga-'''{{nbsp}}('''G''') and '''tera-'''{{nbsp}}('''T'''), should be used only with units of measure as appropriate to the field, and not to express large quantities in other contexts ({{!xt|of the population of 1.3G{{nbsp}}people, 300{{nbsp}}megadeaths would be expected}}). | ||
Notes and exceptions: | Notes and exceptions: | ||
* In tables and infoboxes, quantities are expressed in figures ({{xt|'''Years in office:'''{{nbsp}}5}}); but numbers within a table's explanatory text and comments follow the general rule. | * In tables and infoboxes, quantities are expressed in figures ({{xt|'''Years in office:'''{{nbsp}}5}}); but numbers within a table's explanatory text and comments follow the general rule. | ||
* Numbers in mathematical formulae are never spelled out ({{xt|3{{nbsp}}<{{nbsp}}π{{nbsp}}<{{nbsp}}22/7}}, not | * Numbers in mathematical formulae are never spelled out ({{xt|3{{nbsp}}<{{nbsp}}π{{nbsp}}<{{nbsp}}22/7}}, not {{!xt|three < π < 22 sevenths}}). | ||
* Comparable quantities should be all spelled out or all in figures: | * Comparable quantities should be all spelled out or all in figures: | ||
: • {{xt|five cats and thirty-two dogs}}, not {{!xt|five cats and 32 dogs}} | : • {{xt|five cats and thirty-two dogs}}, not {{!xt|five cats and 32 dogs}} | ||
: • {{xt|86{{nbsp}}men and 103{{nbsp}}women}}, not {{!xt|eighty-six men and 103 women}} | : • {{xt|86{{nbsp}}men and 103{{nbsp}}women}}, not {{!xt|eighty-six men and 103 women}} | ||
: • {{xt|There were 3 winners and 206 losers}}, even though ''3'' would normally be given as ''three''; or {{xt|Three won and two hundred six lost}} (or ''two hundred '''and''' six'' in British English), even though ''two hundred six'' would normally be given as ''206''); but not {{!xt|There were three winners and 206 losers}}. | : • {{xt|There were 3 winners and 206 losers}}, even though ''3'' would normally be given as ''three''; or {{xt|Three won and two hundred six lost}} (or ''two hundred '''and''' six'' in British English), even though ''two hundred six'' would normally be given as ''206''); but not {{!xt|There were three winners and 206 losers}}. | ||
* But adjacent quantities not comparable should usually be in {{em|different formats:}} | * But adjacent quantities not comparable should usually be in {{em|different formats:}} {{xt|twelve 90-minute volumes}} or {{xt|12 ninety-minute volumes}}, not {{!xt|12 90-minute volumes}} or {{!xt|twelve ninety-minute volumes}}. | ||
:* Avoid awkward juxtapositions: {{xt|On February 25, 2011, twenty-one more were chosen}}, not | :* Avoid awkward juxtapositions: {{xt|On February 25, 2011, twenty-one more were chosen}}, not {{!xt|On February 25, 2011, 21 more were chosen}}. | ||
* Personal ages are typically stated in figures ({{xt|8-year-old child}}) except for large, approximate values ({{xt|69-million-year-old fossil}}). | * Personal ages are typically stated in figures ({{xt|8-year-old child}}) except for large, approximate values ({{xt|69-million-year-old fossil}}). | ||
* Sometimes figures and words carry different meanings; for example {{xt|Every locker except one was searched}} implies there is a single exception (without specifying which), while {{xt|Every locker except{{nbsp}}1 was searched}} means that only locker number{{nbsp}}1 was not searched. | * Sometimes figures and words carry different meanings; for example {{xt|Every locker except one was searched}} implies there is a single exception (without specifying which), while {{xt|Every locker except{{nbsp}}1 was searched}} means that only locker number{{nbsp}}1 was not searched. | ||
* Proper names, technical terms, and the like are never altered: {{xt|''[[Seven Samurai]]''}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|''[[The Sixth Sense]]''}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|5{{nbsp}}Channel Street}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|Channel{{nbsp}}5}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|Chanel No.{{nbsp}}5}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|Fourth Estate}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|''[[The Third Man]]''}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|Second Judicial District}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|First Amendment}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|''[[Zero Hour!]]''}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|''[[Less Than Zero (film)|Less Than Zero]]''}} | * Proper names, technical terms, and the like are never altered: {{xt|''[[Wikipedia:Seven Samurai|Seven Samurai]]''}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|''[[Wikipedia:The Sixth Sense|The Sixth Sense]]''}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|5{{nbsp}}Channel Street}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|Channel{{nbsp}}5}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|Chanel No.{{nbsp}}5}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|Fourth Estate}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|''[[Wikipedia:The Third Man|The Third Man]]''}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|Second Judicial District}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|First Amendment}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|''[[Wikipedia:Zero Hour|Zero Hour!]]''}};{{nbsp}} {{xt|''[[Wikipedia:Less Than Zero (film)|Less Than Zero]]''}} | ||
* Avoid beginning a sentence with figures: | * Avoid beginning a sentence with figures: | ||
: • Not {{!xt|There were many matches'''.''' 23 ended in a draw}}, | : • Not {{!xt|There were many matches'''.''' 23 ended in a draw}}, | ||
: but {{xt|There were many matches''';''' 23{{nbsp}}ended in a draw}} or {{xt|There were many matches'''.''' Twenty-three ended in a draw}}. | : but {{xt|There were many matches''';''' 23{{nbsp}}ended in a draw}} or {{xt|There were many matches'''.''' Twenty-three ended in a draw}}. | ||
: • Not | : • Not {{!xt|1945 and 1950 saw crucial elections}} (nor {{!xt|Nineteen forty-five and 1950 saw crucial elections}}{{snd}}because comparable numbers should be both written in words or both in figures) but {{xt|The elections of 1945 and 1950 were crucial.}} | ||
:* Exception: Where a proper name, technical term, etc., itself beginning with a numeral, opens the sentence ({{xt|1-Naphthylamine is typically synthesized via the Feldenshlager{{ndash}}Glockenspiel process}}) although this can usually be avoided by rewording ({{xt|Feldenshlager{{ndash}}Glockenspiel is the process typically used in the synthesis of 1-naphthylamine}}). | :* Exception: Where a proper name, technical term, etc., itself beginning with a numeral, opens the sentence ({{xt|1-Naphthylamine is typically synthesized via the Feldenshlager{{ndash}}Glockenspiel process}}) although this can usually be avoided by rewording ({{xt|Feldenshlager{{ndash}}Glockenspiel is the process typically used in the synthesis of 1-naphthylamine}}). | ||
===Ordinals=== | ===Ordinals=== | ||
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