PunctuationNumbers

Bad Grammar/Good PunctuationMargie Wakeman Wells

No. 1 Over Ten/Under TenIn general use words or the numbers one through ten and figures for the

numbers 11 and up.

I believe we used seven in the operation.

It may have been two or three months later that I talked with him again.

She reportedly had ten siblings still living at home.

Exceptions:Consistency

There were 7 men and 12 women on the committee.

Q. How many did you order that day?A. It was standard to order 2 or 3 a day.Q. And is that what you did that Friday?A. No. That day we ordered 13.Q. Why did you order 13?A. Because our supply had been depleted. We were down to 8.

Numbers Continued.Number 14: Write out in words the numbers 1-99 when they begin a sentence.

Fifty-nine of us were involved in the project.782 were delivered at the beginning of January.

Number 16: Use figures for all datesKennedy was assassinated November 22, 1963.

Exception: When the word first refers not to the specific date but to the first of the month, write out the word first.

I will be there for a week the first of March.

Number 19: Use figures with a colon for the times of the day and figures, a colon, and ciphers for those times that are on the hour.

Be there no later than 7:30.Note: If the word o’clock is stated, transcribe it, and leave the time in

time figures.If A.M. or P.M. is said, transcribe it, and leave the time in figures.The appointment was for 4:20 P.M.Q. You say you arrived at 4:00. Is that a.m. or p.m.?A. P.m. ()

Numbers Continued.Number 14: Write out in words the numbers 1-99 when they begin a sentence.

Fifty-nine of us were involved in the project.782 were delivered at the beginning of January.

Number 16: Use figures for all datesKennedy was assassinated November 22, 1963.

Exception: When the word first refers not to the specific date but to the first of the month, write out the word first.

I will be there for a week the first of March.

Number 19: Use figures with a colon for the times of the day and figures, a colon, and ciphers for those times that are on the hour.

Be there no later than 7:30.Note: If the word o’clock is stated, transcribe it, and leave the time in

time figures.If A.M. or P.M. is said, transcribe it, and leave the time in figures.The appointment was for 4:20 P.M.Q. You say you arrived at 4:00. Is that a.m. or p.m.?A. P.m. ()