When writing numbers I always come across the question of writing out each number using words, or just using the numbers as they stand. Surprisingly there is a correct way to include numbers in your blogs. Most bloggers don’t need to pay attention to whether or not you need to write “nineteen” instead of “19”, but for picky people I’ve decided to break down the rules.
When using numbers that are one or two words (one, five, twelve, two hundred) spell them out. Although two hundred has three digits numerically, it only has two words which is why you have to spell it out. This rule also applies for fractions: three-fourths. Most of us, myself included, never pay much attention to writing 500 or five hundred, but technically writing out the words is the correct form.
When there are longer numbers involved (129; 7,685; 67,987) you can just write the numbers in numeric form. You don’t have to spell out 129 (one hundred twenty-nine) because it has more than two words when writing it out.
You can also use words and numbers together. For example you can write 25 billion, 180 million, and so on. This only works if you have whole millions or billions. If you have 25 billion 5 hundred 85, you have to use only the numbers because it is not a whole billion (25,000,000,585).
When beginning a sentence you have to write out the word. This is true even if it is in contradiction to one of the rules above. Seven hundred people went to the dog show, not 700 people went to the dog show.
Use numbers instead of words when you are dealing with dates, time, addresses, pages, scores, decimals, or statistics.
Most blogs don’t have anything to do with numbers, but if you include numbers in your blog remember the above rules. If you just don’t care or you aren’t that picky, then don’t worry about the correct way, but at least you know the rules.
When it comes to situations like this, there really are no hard-and-fast rules. That is, you can ask a ten writers and come up with ten "rules" about writing numbers. For example, I spent the last four years of school being drilled on Associated Press style, which requires zero through nine written using words and 10 and above written using numerals, with a variety of exceptions thrown in.
So really, I'd suggest that the best writing style is to make things consistent. You'll look foolish to your readers if you use "8" and "nine" in the same paragraph, or if you switch between 11 a.m. and eleven o'clock. Pick a set of rules — there are many — and stick with it.
Michael, good point! Consistency in writing styles is important for making a post flow from start to finish. The reader becomes accustomed to the way words appear and it's easier to skim/read.
What I hate is when people change mid sentence; "I work from 9 till five". BAH.
Ha, this was the question I asked myself writing my very first post
(just launched the blog). I was advised to just be consistent with how I put numbers within an article, thanks for the explanation though!