Numbers in academic writing
The rules for using numbers in academic writing vary among academic disciplines. The
conventions described here are for NON-TECHNICAL academic prose where numbers are not a
significant focus. Scientific and technical writing will have their own conventions and students
should consult a manual dedicated to those standards. The main rules about the use of numbers in
standard academic writing are about:
1. When to write numbers in words
2. How to avoid confusion with numbers in a sentence
3. When to use digits for numbers
4. How to write numbers correctly
GRAMMAR CHECKERS will not help you with the acceptable presentation of numbers in
academic writing. You need to know and use the conventions for writing numbers correctly
when you are writing and proofreading your work.
1. When to write numbers in words
• Write in words one or two-word numbers, rounded numbers and ordinal numbers
For general academic writing, you need to write these numbers in words: all numbers under one
hundred (e.g. ninety-nine) rounded numbers (e.g. four hundred, two thousand, six million) and
ordinal numbers (e.g. third, twenty-fifth). Exceptions: See 3. When to use digits for numbers
Examples
The country had been at war for twenty-five years. (number under 100)
Over four hundred soldiers were sent to the war zone. (rounded numbers)
The thirty-eighth battalion was sent to the war zone for the fourth time. (ordinal numbers)
• Write in words numbers beginning a sentence
Either write the number in words, or if that’s awkward, then rewrite the sentence to avoid beginning
the sentence with a numeral. Exception: You can begin a sentence with a date.
Examples
130 student volunteers joined the university peace mission.
One hundred and thirty student volunteers joined the university peace mission.
75 percent of the rental properties were occupied by students.
Students occupied 75 percent of the rental properties in the town. (rewrite)
2008 was a good year to commence university studies. (beginning with a date)
• Write in words approximate numbers and some times of the day
In non-technical academic writing, write in words the number for approximate figures (including
fractions) and for full, half and quarter hour times.
Examples
about half the students; a quarter of the university; four times as often; hundreds of times
six o’clock, half past six, quarter past seven, quarter to nine, midday, midnight
2. How to avoid confusion with numbers in a sentence
• Avoid confusion when using two numbers together (run-on numbers) or when dealing
with several numbers in a single sentence
Examples
There were 32 third-grade students participating in the test. (run-on numbers)
The computer laboratory has 24 thirty-centimetre monitors.(run-on numbers)
At least 28 million people lived in the region where a 1500 dollar a year support allowance was given
for each student’s education fees. (Be consistent—write both numbers in digits or words)
Teaching and Learning Support (TaLS) – Fact Sheets
http://www.une.edu.au/current-students/resources/academic-skills/fact-sheets