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The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

    Numbers

    Refer to “The Associated Press Stylebook” and use the following guidelines when you use numbers. Use numerals for 10 and above unless the number begins the sentence. If you have two digits, use the numeral. This rule also applies to ordinals such as first, second and 10th.

    Right: 12; 99; 1,234
    Right: 1 million
    Right: three
    Wrong: 4
    Wrong: six billion

    Common Exceptions 

    Addresses
    Right: 6 Sixth St.
    Wrong: Six Sixth St. 

    Ages
    Right: 6 months old; a 3-year-old boy 

    Dates
    Right: June 3; May 15; Oct. 1 

    Dimensions
    Right: a 6-by-12 rug; 6 inches deep 

    Dollars
    Right: $4; 5 cents 

    Fractions
    Right: 2 1/2; three-fourths
    Wrong: 1/2 

    Millions
    Right: 2 million 

    Percentages
    Right: 3 percent
    Wrong: five percent; 15 % 

    Proportions
    Right: a 5-1 ratio 

    Speed
    Right: 7 mph 

    Temperature
    Right: 7 degrees 

    Time on clock
    Right: At 5 p.m., he had waited five hours. 

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