GRAMMAR BASICS REVIEW

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1. Writing Numbers
This section discusses numbers, how to write them correctly, and when to use numerical
expressions instead.
Although usage varies, most people spell out numbers that can be expressed in one or two words
and use figures for other numbers.
Note: If you are using a specific citation style, such as MLA or APA, consult the style manual for
specific formatting instructions.
Words
over two pounds
six million dollars
after thirty-one years
eighty-three people
Figures
after 126 days
only $31.50
6,381 soldiers
4.78 liters
Here are some examples of specific situations.
Days and Years
December 12, 1965 or 12 December 1965
A.D. 1066
in 1900
in 1971-72 or in 1971-1972
the eighties, the twentieth century
the 1980's or the 1980s
Time of Day
8:00 A.M. (or) a.m. (or) eight o'clock in the morning
4:30 P.M. (or) p.m. (or) half-past four in the afternoon
Addresses
16 Tenth Street
350 West 114 Street
Identification Numbers
Room 8
Channel 18
Interstate 65
Henry VIII
Page and Division of Books and Plays
page 30
chapter 6
in act 3, scene 2 (or) in Act III, Scene ii
Decimals and Percentages
a 2.7 average
13.25 percent (in nonscientific contexts)
25% (in scientific contexts)
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.037 metric ton
Large Round Numbers
four billion dollars (or) $4 billion
16,500,000 (or) 16.5 million
NOTES ON USAGE
Repeat numbers in commercial writing.
The bill will not exceed one hundred (100) dollars.
Use numerals in legal writing.
The cost of damage is $1,365.42.
Numbers in series and statistics should be consistent.
two apples, six oranges, and three bananas
NOT: two apples, 6 oranges, and 3 bananas
115 feet by 90 feet (or) 115' x 90'
scores of 25-6 (or) scores of 25 to 6
The vote was 9 in favor and 5 opposed
Write out numbers beginning sentences.
Six percent of the group failed.
NOT: 6% of the group failed.
Use a combination of figures and words for numbers when such a combination will keep
your writing clear.
Unclear: The club celebrated the birthdays of 6 90-year-olds who were born in the
city. (may cause the reader to read '690' as one number.)
Clearer: The club celebrated the birthdays of six 90-year-olds who were born in the
city.
The Quantifiers: talking about numbers in English
CARDINAL and ORDINAL NUMBERS
The cardinal numbers (one, two, three, etc.) are adjectives referring to quantity, and the ordinal numbers (first, second,
third, etc.) refer to distribution.
Number Cardinal Ordinal
1 one first
2 two second
3 three third
4 four fourth
5 five fifth
6 six sixth
7 seven seventh
8 eight eighth
9 nine ninth
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10 ten tenth
11 eleven eleventh
12 twelve twelfth
13 thirteen thirteenth
14 fourteen fourteenth
15 fifteen fifteenth
16 sixteen sixteenth
17 seventeen seventeenth
18 eighteen eighteenth
19 nineteen nineteenth
20 twenty twentieth
21 twenty-one twenty-first
22 twenty-two twenty-second
23 twenty-three twenty-third
24 twenty-four twenty-fourth
25 twenty-five twenty-fifth
26 twenty-six twenty-sixth
27 twenty-seven twenty-seventh
28 twenty-eight twenty-eighth
29 twenty-nine twenty-ninth
30 thirty thirtieth
31 thirty-one thirty-first
40 forty fortieth
50 fifty fiftieth
60 sixty sixtieth
70 seventy seventieth
80 eighty eightieth
90 ninety ninetieth
100 one hundred hundredth
500 five hundred five hundredth
1,000 one thousand thousandth
100,000 one hundred thousand hundred thousandth
1,000,000 one million millionth
Examples
There are twenty-five people in the room.
He was the fourteenth person to win the award since 1934.
Six hundred thousand people were left homeless after the earthquake.
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I must have asked you twenty times to be quiet.
He went to Israel for the third time this year.
Fractions and decimals
Said Written Said
half 0.5 point five
a quarter 0.25 point two five
three quarters 0.75 point seven five
Percentages
Written Said
25% twenty five percent
50% fifty percent
75% seventy five percent
100% a/one hundred percent
Units
Written Said
$1,200 one thousand two hundred dollars
16,486 sixteen thousand four hundred and eighty-six pounds
545kms five hundred and forty-five kilometres
$25.35 twenty-five dollars thirty-five
Years
Written Said
1988 Nineteen eighty-eight
1864 Eighteen sixty-four
1999 Nineteen ninety-nine
How to say '0'
nought used in mathematical expressions and decimals:
'nought times three equals nought'
0.3 = 'nought point three' (or 'point three')
0.03 = 'point nought three'
zero used in scientific expressions, especially temperatures:
20
o
C = minus twenty degrees or
twenty degrees below zero
also used to mean 'the lowest point':
'The heavy rain reduced visibility to zero'
'o' (the
letter)
used in telephone numbers:
0171 390 0062 = 'o one seven one three nine o double o six two'
nil/nothing used to express the score in games such as football:
2 - 0 = 'two nil' or 'two nothing'