Writing numbers in academic papers can be a bit tricky, as there are different rules for writing numbers in different contexts. In general, it is important to be consistent in how you write numbers throughout your paper, and to follow the guidelines of the style guide you are using (such as APA or MLA).
One general rule to follow when writing numbers in academic papers is to use numerals for numbers that represent a specific quantity or value, such as measurements, dates, and statistics. For example, you would write "The experiment was conducted over a period of 3 days," or "The average temperature was 22.5 degrees Celsius."
On the other hand, you should generally spell out numbers that are written in words, such as those that begin a sentence or are part of a title. For example, you would write "Twenty-five participants were included in the study," or "The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health."
There are a few other considerations to keep in mind when writing numbers in academic papers. For example, you should use commas to separate thousands and millions, as in "The population of the city was 1,000,000 people," and you should use a hyphen to connect numbers that are written in words, as in "The study included twenty-five- to thirty-year-olds."
In addition to following these general guidelines, it is important to consult the style guide you are using for more specific rules and examples. By following the guidelines for writing numbers in academic papers, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and easy to understand.
Rules for Writing Numbers: Know When To Spell Them Out
This item scored 5 on a 9-point scale The following are a few other points to remember when using numbers. Check out these easy and fun exercises from Comment below to let us know how you fared! If you don't have time to review each number yourself, a professional 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. The biggest question when it comes to numbers in academic writing is whether to use numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Examples: The region has an average of 43. No author creates a perfect text without reviewing, reflecting on and revising what he or she has written, and proofreading is an extremely important part of this process. Correct: The library was built in the fifties.
Numbers in academic writing
Before looking at 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. Incorrect: The library acquired five new mystery novels, 12 new desktop computers, and 17 new periodicals. PhD Success How to Write a Doctoral Thesis If you are in the process of preparing a PhD thesis for submission, or planning one for the near future, you may well be interested in the book, How to Write a Doctoral Thesis, which is available on our PhD Success: How to Write a Doctoral Thesis provides guidance for students familiar with English and the procedures of English universities, but it also acknowledges that many theses in the English language are now written by candidates whose first language is not English, so it carefully explains the scholarly styles, conventions and standards expected of a successful doctoral thesis in the English language. When writing the time along with a. Guidelines for Writing Time a. Download the FREE Spelling Tip! When done carefully, correctly and thoroughly, proofreading can make the difference between writing that communicates successfully with its intended readers and writing that does not.
When to Spell Out Numbers in Writing: Guide and Examples
Some predict that the number of users will reach 2 billion by 2020. This style allows all quantities to be expressed in a similar manner. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. It is best to avoid beginning a sentence with a decimal, as these types of numbers would be awkward to read if you had to spell them out. Should you write them out in words or leave them as numerals? Certain numbers are spelled out with letters, and others are only written as numerals. 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.
Formatting Numbers (Dates & Time) in Academic & Scientific Writing
Writing out large numbers not only wastes space but could also be a major distraction to your readers. In general, retain the numeral that occurs with a unit of measurement. Instead, you could specify "in the morning," "in the evening," or "at night" to clarify the meaning. There are further detailed guidelines about Writing numbers that are accompanied by measurements If a number comes immediately before a unit of measurement, use numerals. When you include a number in a heading or a title, it's better to use a numeral rather than spelling out a word. You've probably come across more than your fair share of Top 10 lists; why is it not a Top Ten list? Money amounts are usually written as numerals, but can be written out when the amount is vague or rounded up — "it cost two or three dollars.
