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.
