common

errors

10 COMMON ERRORS IN REPORTING NUMBERS

Edition for Biomedical Authors

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 common 10 COMMON ERRORS IN REPORTING NUMBERS
errors Edition for Biomedical Authors

Error 1
Using spelled out numbers and numerals inconsistently

We classified sleep events into 26 sleep attacks, four sleep episodes, and twenty-three sleep
events not otherwise classified.

Correct this error Use numerals

We classified sleep events into 26 sleep attacks, 4 sleep episodes, and 23 sleep events not
otherwise classified.

Another Example
The sample group consisted of nine teenagers, six middle-aged members, and 8 senior citizens.
The sample group consisted of 9 teenagers, 6 middle-aged members, and 8 senior citizens.

Error 2
Beginning a sentence with a numeral

2 patients with waves of sleepiness showed a background of sleepiness in the mean sleep latency
test.

Correct this error Use spelled out numbers

Two patients with waves of sleepiness showed a background of sleepiness in the mean sleep
latency test.

Another Example
200 µL of blood sample was obtained from the left ventricle for measurement of drug-plasma
concentrations.
Two hundred microliters of blood sample was obtained from the left ventricle for measurement
of drug-plasma concentrations.

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 common 10 COMMON ERRORS IN REPORTING NUMBERS
errors Edition for Biomedical Authors

Error 3
Using units and symbols inconsistently

To exclude such a possibility, oxygen saturations were measured every 30 min over a period of
4 hours.

Correct this error Use units and symbols consistently

To exclude such a possibility, oxygen saturations were measured every 30 min over a period of 4 h.

Another Example
Two mL of this solution was added to the mixture.
Two milliliters of this solution was added to the mixture.

Error 4
Using cardinal numbers (e.g., 3) in place of ordinal numbers (e.g., third) to indicate
a rank or position

However, at the four week of culture, the activity was the highest in sample 1.

Correct this error Use ordinal numbers

Ordinal numbers generally convey a rank or position rather than a quantity (e.g., She stood first in
class). Cardinal numbers represent absolute values (e.g., 1, 20, 755, and 1000). Therefore, cardinal
numbers should not be used to indicate a rank or position.

However, at the fourth week of culture, the activity was the highest in sample 1.
In the above example, the activity is observed over many weeks and a reference is made to week four
(i.e., the week whose position is fourth in the sequence of weeks). Therefore, “fourth” should be used
instead of “four.”

Another Example
CT scan on the three admission day revealed a subcutaneous edema in the neck.
CT scan on the third admission day revealed a subcutaneous edema in the neck.
In the above example, CT scan was observed on day three (i.e., the day whose position is third in the
sequence of hospital days). Therefore, “third” should be used instead of “three.”

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 common 10 COMMON ERRORS IN REPORTING NUMBERS
errors Edition for Biomedical Authors

Error 5
Using a hyphen (-) instead of an en dash (-) to represent a range

For a complete list of references, see pages 167-174.

Correct this error Use an en dash

An en dash is commonly used to connect a range of numbers, dates, or time. It usually implies “upto
and including.” Very often, there is confusion between a hyphen and an en dash; the en dash (-) is
slightly longer than the hyphen (-).
An en dash can be obtained by simultaneously pressing the “Ctrl” and “-” keys on the number pad of
your keyboard.

For a complete list of references, see pages 167-174.

Another Example
Transcription levels dropped by 60%-30% for all 7 alleles.
Transcription levels dropped by 60% to 30% for all 7 alleles.
Note: When using from-to (e.g., from 1 to 10) or between-and (e.g., between 1 and 10), the word
“to” or “and” cannot be substituted with an en dash.

Error 6
Using the 12-hour time system incorrectly

Specimens were collected from 07:30 to 11:00 in order to maintain consistency throughout the
process.

Correct this error Use AM and PM appropriately

In the 12-hour system, the day is divided into two equal portions of 12 hours: 1 through 12 noon and 1
through 12 midnight. The abbreviations AM and PM are used to distinguish between the two portions
of the day.
If the specimens were collected from 07:30 in the morning to 11:00 in the night then the sentence
would read as
Specimens were collected from 07:30 AM to 11:00 PM in order to maintain consistency throughout
the process.

Another Example
Mixture A was fed once at 09:30, and Mixture B was fed twice daily (at 08:30 and 10:00).
If this procedure was conducted in the morning, then the sentence would read as
Mixture A was fed once at 09:30 AM, and Mixture B was fed twice daily (at 08:30 AM and 10:00 AM).

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 common 10 COMMON ERRORS IN REPORTING NUMBERS
errors Edition for Biomedical Authors

Error 7
Using an incorrect date format

Between 1 st January 2001 and December 31 st 2003, 2176 patients underwent surgical operation
and were pathologically proven to have breast cancer.

Correct this error Use the cardinal representation for the day of a month
e.g., use 1, 3, 8 in place of 1st, 3rd, 8th (ordinals)
Use a consistent date format
i.e., follow day/month/year in British English and
month/day/year in American English

Note: When following the month/day/year format, insert a comma between the day and the year to
avoid confusion.

Day/month/year: Between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2003, 2176 patients underwent
surgical operation and were pathologically proven to have breast cancer.
Month/day/year: Between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2003, 2176 patients underwent
surgical operation and were pathologically proven to have breast cancer.

Another Example
All 37 patients were followed-up from January, 2000 to December, 2004.
All 37 patients were followed-up from January 2000 to December 2004.

Error 8
Incorrect representation of units

The patient was administered 70 mg/m 2/h cisplatin.

Correct this error Use a single virgule (/), even if an expression has more
than one unit in the denominator
Use a middle dot (·) to show the mathematical relationship
between the units

The patient was administered 70 mg/(m 2· h) cisplatin.

The patient was administered 70 mg· m -2· h -1 cisplatin.

Another Example
Constant airflow at 45 mL/min/L was provided from the bottom of the fermenter.
Constant airflow at 45 mL/(min·L) was provided from the bottom of the fermenter.
Constant airflow at 45 mL·min -1·L -1 was provided from the bottom of the fermenter.

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 common 10 COMMON ERRORS IN REPORTING NUMBERS
errors Edition for Biomedical Authors

Error 9
No space between a numeral and its corresponding unit of measurement

The diameter of the tube was 2.5cm.

Correct this error Insert a space between the numeral and its unit

The diameter of the tube was 2.5 cm.

Another Example
The patient’s weight was found to be only 57kg.
The patient’s weight was found to be only 57 kg.

Error 10
Missing units

The average height was 150.

Correct this error Use the correct unit

The average height was 150 cm.

Another Example
Group 1 comprised senior citizens (aged 60-85).
Group 1 comprised senior citizens (aged 60-85 years).

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