Style Guide: Abbreviations

Durham Tech Communication and Style Guide

4. Numerals	Printable Version
	4.1 Spelling out numbers
	Spell out numbers one through nine. Use numerals for numbers 10 and up.
	Examples:	I purchased nine computers for the office. This year, over 200 students will graduate.
	Spell out any number which begins a sentence — or rewrite the sentence.
	Examples:	Twenty-two students will receive honors this year. This year, 22 students will receive honors.
	4.2 Consistency
	Numbers in a category should be treated in the same manner. So, if you must use numerals for one of the numbers in a given category, also use numerals for the others in that category.
	Examples:	There are 25 students in the Opticianry program, 7 in the Dental Laboratory Technology program, and 223 in General Education.
	If the text contains multiple categories of numbers, you may use numerals for one set of numbers and spell out those in the other set in order to keep the sets distinct.
	Examples:	Nine students scored 100, thirteen scored between 90 and 99, twenty-six scored between 89 and 80, and the remaining fifty-six scored below 80.
	4.3 Days, months, and years
	Spell out numerical designations first through ninth. Use numerals with appropriate letter suffixes for 10th and above.
	Examples:	During his first semester, he was on the President’s List. Their 50th anniversary is fast approaching. On the 61st day, disability pay begins.
	If the text contains multiple categories of numbers, you may use numerals for one set of numbers and spell out those in the other set in order to keep the sets distinct.
	Examples:	Nine students scored 100, thirteen scored between 90 and 99, twenty-six scored between 89 and 80, and the remaining fifty-six scored below 80.
	Do not use -st, -th, etc. with dates.
	Correct: Incorrect:	She will attend April 27. She will attend April 27th.
	Also, do not use apostrophes with years EXCEPT when numerals have been omitted.
	Correct: Correct: Incorrect:	Durham Tech was founded in the 1960s. Durham Tech was founded in the ‘60s. Durham Tech was founded in the 1960’s
	4.4 Money
	Use the dollar sign before the numerals and omit double zeros after the decimal.
	Correct: Correct: Incorrect:	$15 $15.25 $15.00
	For dollar amounts beyond thousands, use the dollar sign, numerals, and appropriate word.
	Correct: Correct:	The grant was $14 million. The budget was $82.6 billion
	4.5 Percentages
	Express percentages in numerals rather than in words. In tables, give percentages using numerals and the % symbol. In text, use the word percent instead of the symbol.
	Examples:	A grade point average of 3.8 is the equivalent of 95 percent. 40% (used in a table)
	The % symbol may be used in both tables and text ONLY in scientific and statistical writing.
	4.6 Physical quantities
	Use numerals to express ages, dimensions, distances, and computer storage capacities.
	Examples:	4 miles 7 cubic feet 8-point type 8 megabytes WordPerfect 5.1	240 volts 45 pounds 21 hectares 21 years old PageMaker 4.0
	4.7 Telephone numbers
	If the document you are creating is strictly for use by Durham Tech’s faculty and staff, you may omit the area code and/or use the extension abbreviation for on-campus numbers.
	Examples:	If you are interested in participating in the professional development workshop, call ext. 8083. For information about our RSVP program, call 919-536-7247, ext. 5301.
	If the publication will be sent off campus and/or will be read by our students, include the full number with the area code and no parentheses.
	Example:	Marketing and Communications Department: 919-536-7246
	If the same number is given several times in one document, you may omit the area code after the first listing.
	4.8 Times
	If the stated time falls on the hour, do not use :00. Simply give the numeral along with a.m. or p.m.
	Examples:	The class will meet at 8 p.m. The concert is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
	For 12 a.m. use midnight and for 12 p.m use noon (without the numeral 12 and without the a.m. or p.m.).
	Examples:	The session will end at noon. He came to work at midnight.
	When giving a time range, omit a.m. and p.m. when it is repetitive.
	Examples:	6 – 8 p.m.. 7:30 – 11:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
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Durham Tech Communication and Style Guide

4. Numerals

Printable Version

Spell out numbers one through nine. Use numerals for numbers 10 and up.

Examples:

I purchased nine computers for the office.
This year, over 200 students will graduate.

Spell out any number which begins a sentence — or rewrite the sentence.

Examples:

Twenty-two students will receive honors this year.
This year, 22 students will receive honors.

Numbers in a category should be treated in the same manner. So, if you must use numerals for one of the numbers in a given category, also use numerals for the others in that category.

Examples:

There are 25 students in the Opticianry program, 7 in the Dental Laboratory
Technology program, and 223 in General Education.

If the text contains multiple categories of numbers, you may use numerals for one set of numbers and spell out those in the other set in order to keep the sets distinct.

Examples:

Nine students scored 100, thirteen scored between 90 and 99, twenty-six scored between
89 and 80, and the remaining fifty-six scored below 80.

Spell out numerical designations first through ninth. Use numerals with appropriate letter suffixes for 10th and above.

Examples:

During his first semester, he was on the President’s List.
Their 50th anniversary is fast approaching.
On the 61st day, disability pay begins.

If the text contains multiple categories of numbers, you may use numerals for one set of numbers and spell out those in the other set in order to keep the sets distinct.

Examples:

Nine students scored 100, thirteen scored between 90 and 99, twenty-six scored between
89 and 80, and the remaining fifty-six scored below 80.

Do not use -st, -th, etc. with dates.

Correct:
Incorrect:

She will attend April 27.
She will attend April 27th.

Also, do not use apostrophes with years EXCEPT when numerals have been omitted.

Correct:
Correct:
Incorrect:

Durham Tech was founded in the 1960s.
Durham Tech was founded in the ‘60s.
Durham Tech was founded in the 1960’s

Use the dollar sign before the numerals and omit double zeros after the decimal.

Correct:
Correct:
Incorrect:

$15
$15.25
$15.00

For dollar amounts beyond thousands, use the dollar sign, numerals, and appropriate word.

Correct:
Correct:

The grant was $14 million.
The budget was $82.6 billion

Express percentages in numerals rather than in words. In tables, give percentages using numerals and the % symbol. In text, use the word percent instead of the symbol.

Examples:

A grade point average of 3.8 is the equivalent of 95 percent.
40% (used in a table)

The % symbol may be used in both tables and text ONLY in scientific and statistical writing.

Use numerals to express ages, dimensions, distances, and computer storage capacities.

Examples:

4 miles
7 cubic feet
8-point type
8 megabytes
WordPerfect 5.1

240 volts
45 pounds
21 hectares
21 years old
PageMaker 4.0

If the document you are creating is strictly for use by Durham Tech’s faculty and staff, you may omit the area code and/or use the extension abbreviation for on-campus numbers.

Examples:

If you are interested in participating in the professional development workshop, call ext. 8083.
For information about our RSVP program, call 919-536-7247, ext. 5301.

If the publication will be sent off campus and/or will be read by our students, include the full number with the area code and no parentheses.

Example:

Marketing and Communications Department: 919-536-7246

If the same number is given several times in one document, you may omit the area code after the first listing.

If the stated time falls on the hour, do not use :00. Simply give the numeral along with a.m. or p.m.

Examples:

The class will meet at 8 p.m.
The concert is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.

For 12 a.m. use midnight and for 12 p.m use noon (without the numeral 12 and without the a.m. or p.m.).

Examples:

The session will end at noon.
He came to work at midnight.

When giving a time range, omit a.m. and p.m. when it is repetitive.

Examples:

6 – 8 p.m..
7:30 – 11:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

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Durham Technical Community College
1637 Lawson Street
Durham, NC 27703
919-536-7200