Number and Words

[Mehreen]

So you know. These are all number not just up to 100.

"Rule 1. Spell out all numbers beginning a sentence.

Examples:
Twenty-three hundred sixty-one victims were hospitalized.
Nineteen fifty-six was quite a year.

Note: The Associated Press Stylebook makes an exception for years."

[Nik]

Good to know.
Probably math school books would be an exception -:)

[Mehreen]

Nik wrote: "Good to know.
Probably math school books would be an exception -:)"

And unconventional books. I'm not too excited about conventions. However, I wish I could make my book far more unconventional than what they are.

[Philip]

Good guidance although I think style and type of book makes a difference even in fiction spelling out sometimes looks more clunky regardless of sentence location for the number.

"1,000 killed in earthquake...."
"One thousand killed in earthquake"

As we are all trying to communicate which works best in the context.

"Nine Eleven was a tragic day"
"9/11 was a tragic day"

Sometimes style pedantry just gets in the way. Personally I was told by my editor to spell out in words not use numbers regardless. It does not always work well especially when dealing with large or very precise numbers e.g.

"0.36% was the rise in flood water due to recent rain."
"Zero point three six percent ...."

Yes I know I could change the sentences to stop the number being first.

[Mehreen]

Philip wrote: "Good guidance although I think style and type of book makes a difference even in fiction spelling out sometimes looks more clunky regardless of sentence location for the number.

"1,000 killed in e..."

I concur. Why shouldn't it be okay for numerals to be written as numbers regardless of where they are? This rule is arbitrary. I wrote them as words in one of my paperback books but I changed it to number when I added the ebook a few years later. Because the paperback was traditionally published and the ebook was self published.

[[deleted user]]

I agree that this rule about numbers is quite arbitrary and is due only to old traditions and style. I find a quantity given in numbers instead of being spelled to strike more directly the mind of the reader.