Numbers, measurements and units

See Notes for Authors p. 22 for detailed guidance.

Brief guidelines as below:

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 %