General Rule
Spell out the numbers one through nine. Use numerals for 10 and above.
Exceptions:
- Percentages that include decimals – 8.9 per cent
- Fractions – 8¾
- Currency – $5
- Addresses – 7 Killdeer St.
Avoid starting a sentence with a number. If there is no way around it, then the number should be spelled out.
Numbers with Four or more Digits
Commas are used to separate three-digit groups, except for house numbers, phone numbers, years, and other serial numbers.
- 4,000 not 4000 or 4 000
Avoid using too many zeros.
- 338.4 billion
- 8 million (not 8,000,000)
Percentages
Use “per cent” (with a space between) to express all percentages. The % symbol is acceptable only when space is limited (in headlines, for example) or in tables, charts, or on the web.
Number Ranges
Use an en dash (slightly longer than a hyphen) between two numbers to indicate a range.
- pages 13–42
When number ranges are preceded by “from” or “between,” use “to” or “through” and “and.”
- from 1956 to 1983
- between 80 and 100
Telephone Numbers
The following is Queen’s style for telephone numbers.
- 613-533-6000 ext. 75697
- 1-800-234-5678
Fractions
Do not use full-sized numerals separated by a slash to express fractions. Use fraction characters (or superscript/subscript).
- 1¾ not 1-3/4
Spell out and hyphenate simple fractions.
- Amelia is two-thirds of the way through the book.
Money
Use numerals and the appropriate symbols to represent currency. There is no space between the symbol and the numeral
- $4.99, €200
Very large sums of money can be expressed using a mixture of numerals and words.
- $7 million, not $7,000,000
- Do not write $7 million dollars
- Use a hyphen when it appears as a compound adjective
- a $7-million construction project
- $7M can be used sparingly if space is limited – for example, in headlines or article titles.
School Grades
Grade 8, but eighth grade