Numbers, measurements and units: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
(4 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Use numerals''' | |||
''' | |||
* whenever a number is followed by a unit symbol | * whenever a number is followed by a unit symbol | ||
Line 19: | Line 14: | ||
* use decimals and never fractions | * use decimals and never fractions | ||
''' | '''Use words''' | ||
* for numbers from one to ten; numerals for larger numbers | * for numbers from one to ten; numerals for larger numbers | ||
Line 29: | Line 24: | ||
* do not begin a sentence with a numeral | * do not begin a sentence with a numeral | ||
''' | '''Spaces and markers''' | ||
* use a full point for the decimal marker e.g. 16.6 kg | * use a full point for the decimal marker e.g. 16.6 kg | ||
Line 41: | Line 36: | ||
marker: 25 000, 1 584 000, 0.616 42 | marker: 25 000, 1 584 000, 0.616 42 | ||
''' | '''Units''' | ||
* millions: use m and decimals: 1 m, 1.5 m, 20 m | * millions: use m and decimals: 1 m, 1.5 m, 20 m | ||
Line 48: | Line 43: | ||
* per cent should be spelt out, not % | * per cent should be spelt out, not % | ||
[[category:writers' guide]] | [[category:Earthwise writers' guide]] |
Latest revision as of 11:22, 30 July 2014
Use numerals
- whenever a number is followed by a unit symbol
(for example kg, m)
- for references to illustrations
- for dates, page numbers, percentages and expressions of
time
- where several numbers are used in succession, some less
and some more than ten, use numerals throughout
- use decimals and never fractions
Use words
- for numbers from one to ten; numerals for larger numbers
- in whole numbers containing several zeros, either substitute
a word for part of the number (e.g. 16 million instead of 16 000 000)
- do not begin a sentence with a numeral
Spaces and markers
- use a full point for the decimal marker e.g. 16.6 kg
- numbers with up to four digits or fewer on either side of the
decimal marker are set without spaces or commas: 616, 1684, 0.8333
- numbers with more than four digits are divided by a fixed
space, not a comma, every three digits from the decimal marker: 25 000, 1 584 000, 0.616 42
Units
- millions: use m and decimals: 1 m, 1.5 m, 20 m
- billions: use bn and decimals: 1 bn, 1.5 bn, 20 bn
- per cent should be spelt out, not %