RE: Web Writing: Numbers - spell out or not?

[Christina Rothwell <crothwell -at- bowstreet -dot- com>]

Hi Jenise,

According to the Microsoft Style Guide for Technical Publications and the
Associated Press Style Guide (yes, I was once a reporter), you should spell
out numbers under 10 (including zero), except if it is part of a measurement
or an input.

The Microsoft Style Guide has a big section on numbering, but below is a
portion of what it says:

"Use numerals for 10 and above. Spell out zero through nine if the number
does not precede a unit of measure or is not used as input. For round
numbers of 1 million or more, use a numeral plus the word, even if the
prefix number is less than 10."

I hope this helps,
Christina
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Cook, Jenise [mailto:jenise -dot- cook-crabbe -at- pacificlife -dot- com]
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 12:42 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Web Writing: Numbers - spell out or not?


I'm debating with no one else at work on this but myself.

After reading and studying much on "writing for the Web," I'm looking at my
current project. One HTML page has various numerical references on it (e.g.,
"...payments are drafted three business days after ...." "Changes and
terminations must be sent to the home office within ten days of....").

I've decided, for those numbers under ten (10), to type the number and not
spell it out (e.g., "...payments are drafted 3 business days after ...."
"Changes and terminations must be sent to the home office within 10 days
of....").

Why? I believe the reader will better remember the number of days if s/he
actually sees the number and not "three" or "ten". It's my best shot at
usability on this issue.

Are there any studies, research, or focus group feedback surveys to back me
up? If I'm off base on this one, please let me know. You won't hurt my
feelings too much.

Thanks, everyone,

Jenise


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