AP Style Review Numbers

In General… Spell out one to nine. Use numerals for 10 and above. EXCEPTIONS: Spell out one to nine. Use numerals for 10 and above. EXCEPTIONS: AddressesAddresses AgesAges MoneyMoney TimeTime PercentagesPercentages Betting Odds, Scores and RatiosBetting Odds, Scores and Ratios Measurements/DimensionsMeasurements/Dimensions TemperaturesTemperatures

In General… Use a combination of numerals and words with numbers in the millions and larger. Use a combination of numerals and words with numbers in the millions and larger. Use a comma for numbers with more than three digits. Use a comma for numbers with more than three digits. Spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence or rephrase the sentence to avoid beginning with a number. Spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence or rephrase the sentence to avoid beginning with a number. Hyphenate fractions when they are spelled out. Hyphenate fractions when they are spelled out.

Dates The AP preference is for styling dates as: month, day, and year, without the ordinal letters and a comma only between the day and the year. The AP preference is for styling dates as: month, day, and year, without the ordinal letters and a comma only between the day and the year. New parking permits go on sale Jan. 6, 2000.New parking permits go on sale Jan. 6, NOT New parking permits go on sale January 6th, NOT New parking permits go on sale January 6th, NOT New parking permits go on sale 6 January NOT New parking permits go on sale 6 January 2000.

Money The $ sign goes BEFORE the amount: The $ sign goes BEFORE the amount: The book cost $4.The book cost $4. The word cents is spelled out: The word cents is spelled out: Can you loan me 25 cents?Can you loan me 25 cents? Money in the millions and billions Money in the millions and billions Carry out the amount by two decimal points: $4.25 millionCarry out the amount by two decimal points: $4.25 million Spell out million, billion, etc.Spell out million, billion, etc.

Ordinal Numbers Spell out ordinal numbers from first to ninth: Spell out ordinal numbers from first to ninth: She placed fourth out of 525 competitors.She placed fourth out of 525 competitors. Use numbers and ordinal placement letters for 10 th and above: Use numbers and ordinal placement letters for 10 th and above: The 21st century has been fodder for many imaginative novelists and entrepreneurial visionaries during the latter half of the 20th century.The 21st century has been fodder for many imaginative novelists and entrepreneurial visionaries during the latter half of the 20th century.

Time Use numerals Use numerals a.m. and p.m. (lowercase letters, no spaces between periods) a.m. and p.m. (lowercase letters, no spaces between periods) Use noon and midnight in place of 12 p.m. and 12 a.m., respectively, for clarity. Use noon and midnight in place of 12 p.m. and 12 a.m., respectively, for clarity. No need to use :00 if the time is on the hour No need to use :00 if the time is on the hour

Years and Decades A year is the ONLY number that can begin a sentence A year is the ONLY number that can begin a sentence No need for apostrophe in the plural form of a year (it doesn’t belong to anything…it’s referring to the 10-year span of a decade = multiple years) No need for apostrophe in the plural form of a year (it doesn’t belong to anything…it’s referring to the 10-year span of a decade = multiple years) the 1880sthe 1880s the 80sthe 80s

Other Use of Numbers Room Numbers Room Numbers Social Security Numbers Social Security Numbers Telephone Numbers Telephone Numbers