Written numbers vs numerals

[Ginger Herten]

Pretty much just wondering what folks generally prefer. And in what specific circumstances do you prefer one or the other?

I mean outside moments where one is clearly better than the other. Like “Dime a dozen” has a very different feel than “10/12” even though numerically they are the same.

I’ve just finished a a story with lots of talk about money, and exchange rates, and stuff, on top of the usual talk about lengths. I’m planning to do a quick additional edit tomorrow, and was undecided about what should be written numbers and what should be be numerals.

I usually lean more towards numerals, because I tend to like them. But someone mentions that they find numerals take them out of the story rhythm so they prefer written words, so I have been embracing them more, but I’m wondering if I have gone over board in that direction with my current story.

• This topic was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Ginger Herten.

[f35h]

I’ve seen style guides suggesting that numbers up to ten (or sometimes twenty) should be spelled out, and above that as numerals. But I think those related to factual writing, news reports and so on.

For fiction, I’d tend more towards spelling out, especially in speech.

“Four hundred and fifty eight dollars?” He exclaimed.

seems to convey more than

“$458?” he exclaimed.

One time I would tend to use numerals is when describing written down numbers, perhaps a sign with a house number, or an invoice, I suppose as they would be numerical in reality.

[anonymous user]

I think it depends the context. Generally, for money I use numerals or if I’m writing allot of numbers. But I tend not to be consistent as it doesn’t really bother me.

I’d say just do what you feel like because allot of this is subjective anyway.

[klaatu48]

Spoken dialogue is always spelled out, in my mind (see the comment above). But in prose, I think it just depends on the flow. Newspapers and Universities have specific guidelines, but those are for very formal writing. Fiction can be much looser.

“He went to the twelfth floor” works better than “He went to the 12th floor”
But
“He went to floor 12” looks better than “He went to floor twelve”

At least in my mind.

[Author]

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