Formatting Numbers

Writing Consultant PresentationEG 1003: Intro to Engineering and DesignPolytechnic Institute of NYU

Use digits for numbers >10

The lab required the use of 16 paperclips and a space heater.

Exception: A sentence cannot begin with a numeral

Options: •Spell out number is the first word of the sentence•Rewrite the sentence so number is not first

Other <11 exceptions

1. Parts of a report Lab 1, Figure 2

2. Anything with a symbol:

Percentages and ratios 12%, 1:4

Measurements/currency12mm, $54

Times and datesOctober 12

3. Figures (numbers in tables, equations or diagram)

1995

2005

2015

5 4 5

Usually spell out ten or fewer

The team ran 25 trials.

There were eight teeth on the gear.

The diameter was 3 cm, and materials cost $7.

The due date is November 4.

Thirty-five bricks were used.

In the design, 35 bricks were used.

The gear ratio was calculated as 3:1.

Lab 7 will be presented today

The front view is shown in Figure 2.

Round off to two decimal places

Engineers are more practical than mathematicians

Real-world measures are useful to the 100s, at best

10.33333333 10.33

10.14285714 10.14

3.16227766 3.16

Use leading & trailing zeroes

Use a zero before any decimal

If some numbers have a decimal, all should

.8 0.80

1 1.00

.92 0.92

Software will line up decimals

Try “decimal tab” to line up numbers:

Use automatic rounding in Excel:

Spell out numbers ten or fewer

Usually use digits when 11 or greater

Only two decimal places with leading and trailing zeroes

Exploit software features

Formatting Numbers