  1. Where figures are used to express the time of day, use the period to separate the hours and minutes: It was 5.30 p. m.; 10.02 a. m. 2. Use degree and minute marks after figures in all cases referring to degrees and minutes, and where whole numbers and decimals are used place the marks after the decimals, as 14.25°; 13.5'; 24.36. 3. In straight matter and reading columns of tables, where decimal fractions occur without a unit, put a cipher in the unit’s place: 0.38; but a .38-caliber revolver. 4. Omit the comma in serial numbers: No. 165473; section 2436. 5. Use inferior figures in all chemical symbols, and omit spaces between the letters and signs. 6. Use superior figures in connection with reference letters, as A1, A2, a1, a2. 7. It is impossible to give definite rules that will govern in all cases as to what should go in figures and what should be spelled out. It is a question which must be left to the judgment of the workman. General rules which will serve as a guide to the tendency of the style follow: Put in figures— Distances: 50 miles; 17 yards; 8 leagues. Clock time: 10.25 p. m.; 12 o’clock and 30 minutes; half past 9. Weights: 12 pounds of beef; 4 hundredweight of stone; 8 centals of wheat; 2 grams of powder. Measures: 40 bushels of wheat; 1 gallon of wine; 15 knots; 6 acres; 9 hectares. Degrees, etc.: 17° 24' 17; 10° below zero; in longitude 46° west (but tenth meridian of longitude, sixth degree of latitude, etc.). Dimensions: 16 feet square; 24 by (not x) 12 feet; 2 by 6 inch plank; 4 kilometers square. Percentage: 15 per cent; 27.4 per cent; but one-half of 1 per cent, etc. Money: $2 per 100 pounds; $1.37½ per bale; 35 cents apiece; a 25-cent piece; 20 francs. Age: My age is 52 years and 6 months; a boy 6 years old; 3-year-old colt; 3-months-old child; wine 8 years old (but a boy about six years old; wine four or five years old—where indefinite and isolated, spell out). Population: The population of Chicago is 1,000,000, of whom 150,000 are voters; a hamlet of 18 persons. (But see paragraphs 9 and 10 under “Spell out.”) Bonds or stocks: Gold is 109; Metropolitan Railroad, 109; 5-20 bonds; 10-40 bonds; 7.30 bonds; 3.65 bonds; 4½ per cent bonds; 3 per cent bonds; 3½ percents; 4 percents. Where the word “bonds” does not follow the designating expression, spell out, as five-twenties, ten-forties, three-sixty-fives, four-and-a-halfs, threes, etc. Votes, ballots, etc.: 75 votes; 50 ballots; 300 voters; 167 Democrats; 14 majority. Definite enumerations (when of a statistical character): 275 persons, 6 sleek horses, 20 head of sheep, 9 dusty travelers; 43 reports, covering 109 pages. (But see paragraph 9 under “Spell out.”) Dates: June 29, A. D. 1882; December 6, 1846; the 1st of January, 1883; June 12; the 5th instant; the 20th day of March; the 1st (day) of the month. July 4, 1776, was the great day which gave to the world the celebrated Declaration of Independence, and now our Fourth of July is something to be remembered by all patriotic Americans; 4th of July claims. Serial numbers: Section 3; No. 1728; paragraph 247; page 125; volume 6 (or Volume VI, as written); 1536 Ninth street; Route No. 17342; clerk of class 3. Spell out— 1. Length of time: It lasted fifteen years; we were three days on the way; four hours and ten minutes. 2. Amounts or numbers larger than 1,000, if spelled, are expressed thus: One thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars; A.D. eighteen hundred and fifty; number 3. When beginning a sentence: Five million dollars’ worth; in other cases, $5,000,000 worth. 4. All amounts beginning sentences or paragraphs, except when, in testimony, an answer begins with a serial or complex number, in which case use figures. Examples: Q. In what year was that?—A. 1876. Q. What was the amount involved?—A. $101.50. Q. How much was the sum?—A. Five (or fifteen, or sixty-seven) dollars. 5. Numbered streets of all cities, except in tabular matter. 6. Regimental numbers of United States Regular or Volunteer Army, as Eighth Infantry, One hundred and ninth Ohio Regiment, Third Massachusetts Cavalry. 7. Sums of money, when they are referred to in a general way, as “four or five millions,” or “I would not contribute one dollar to such a purpose.” [This is not to be construed as meaning round numbers, but simply a general or indefinite statement.] 8. Isolated fractions not connected with whole numbers, as one-fourth, three-tenths. 9. Isolated enumerations less than 10: “I saw three men at work.” “There were four horses in the field.” 10. Number of persons, when not in statistical matter or when general or indefinite: “There were thirty or forty persons in the town.” 11. When numbers are mentioned casually, or by way of illustration, or in connection with serious and dignified subjects, they should be spelled out: In nine hundred and ninety-nine cases out of every thousand. It is now five years since I first took my stand in opposition to this measure, and if my stay among you should be extended to twenty years instead of five, I shall still be found opposing it with the same earnestness as at first. Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute. The twelve Apostles. The three Graces. The nine Muses. The seven wise men of Greece. For twelve years he struggled manfully and the thirteenth year crowned his efforts with success. Congress has now been in session two months and three weeks, lacking two days. It is twenty-four years since the rebellion turned the two sections of our country into two armed bodies composed of two or three million men. It is the twelfth hour which is dreaded most at night by superstitions mortals. At eleven and a half o’clock. In the thirtieth degree of latitude the thermometer reached the fifth degree above zero. 12. When a paper is divided into clauses numbered “1, 2, 3,” etc., in the copy, put in figures; but if written “1st, 2d, 3d,” etc., spell out. |
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