Numbers and Dates

As a general rule, numbers from one to ten are spelled out, and those above given in figures. Numbers should be avoided at the beginning of sentences, but if they cannot be, they should be written out.

Exceptions to this include such obvious numerical statements as time, years, dates, money and the like. Figures are used when a number of similar things are listed:

Enrolments include 105 full-time students, 40 part-time students and 7 postgraduate students.

Dates are set out like this:

Thursday 2 April 1990
mid-1989
1930s (not the possessive 1930’s as is so often seen)

Large numbers are usually:

2,000,000 and 30,000 but 2000.

Words are used when numbering centuries: twentieth century.

In ordinary text, write $10, 5 p.m. etc., not $10.00, 5.00 p.m., though the latter style might be appropriate in a table.

External telephone numbers are written with a space:

9386 3029

and internal numbers as:

extension 1111