{"id":1927,"date":"2019-12-29T17:01:08","date_gmt":"2019-12-29T23:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/?page_id=1927"},"modified":"2019-12-29T22:40:48","modified_gmt":"2019-12-30T04:40:48","slug":"tcmos-numbers-chapter-9","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/writing\/my-blogs-on-chicago-manual-of-style\/tcmos-numbers-chapter-9\/","title":{"rendered":"TCMOS \u2013 Numbers \u2013 Chapter 9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Sunday, December 29, 2019 Today is the last blog of 2019, also marking the midpoint of The Chicago Manual of Style (TCMOS) topics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The topic today is numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are unavoidable parts of our books, journals, articles, and blogs. We deal with money, dates, times, and statistics. Read on to learn whether to spell, hyphenate, and punctuate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To Spell or not<\/p>\n\n\n\n General rule: <\/em><\/strong>TCMOS advises spelling whole numbers from zero through one hundred and their round multiples. The rule applies to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exception #1:<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Spell out multiples of round numbers, but use a numeral for precise counts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fifty-five thousand people fled the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The official count of people who fled was 55, 325<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exception #2<\/strong>: Always spell out a number starting a sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two hundred ten athletes competed in the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In all, 210 athletes competed in the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please note: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before I proceed further, it’s important to understand the following definitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ordinal Numbers<\/strong>: Numbers that state a position of something. First or 1st. July 21st. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cardinal Numbers<\/strong>: Numbers that aren\u2019t ordinal. 1, 2, 3 . . . one, two, three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The “general rule” of spelling numbers applies to ordinals and cardinals alike. Ordinals are bound by a few more rules, and I\u2019m guilty of violating them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip:<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Whether <\/em>spelling or using numerals for number category, be consistent with your choice. Examples of number categories are years, dates, ordinals, cardinals, etc. Yes, you can break this rule to enhance readability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exception #3: <\/strong>Spell out a simple fraction<\/strong> even when a whole number precedes it. However, if the fraction is large, use numerals instead. One-quarter mile. 5 \u00bc inches tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exception #4: <\/strong>When using numbers with abbreviations<\/strong>, use numerals. 50 km. But spell a measurement unit without a number.<\/em> We measured in pounds (not lbs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a range, repeat the unit only if it’s closed to the number. 30%-60% (A closed unit contains no space between the number and itself). 2 * 6 cm (cm is not repeated because it’s not closed => there\u2019s a space between the number and unit).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exceptions #5:<\/strong> Percentages<\/strong> (not percent) are usually expressed in numerals (instead of spelling out). In a novel that is non-scientific, use the spelled-out word percent instead of symbol %. 5 percent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Money:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Exception #7:<\/strong> Yes, general rule states spelling out numbers less than one hundred or round multiples. But page numbers, chapter numbers, parts, volumes, etc. are expressed in numerals. I\u2019m glad to learn this as I have titled my blogs with chapters numbers from TCMOS set in numerals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DATE \/ TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Exception #8:<\/strong> Years are expressed in numerals except when starting a sentence, and if so, rephrase the sentence is your recommended options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use cardinal numbers for specific dates (instead of ordinals) even if these are pronounced as ordinals.<\/strong> September 1, 1980. (not 1st) 26 March 2010.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Exception #9:<\/strong> decades are spelled out or numeral. See examples below from TCMOS noting that s after the year calls for no apostrophe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 1940s and 1950s<\/p>\n\n\n\n The forties and fifties<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exception #10:<\/strong> Spell out day times in even, half, and quarter hours, but for the more precise times, use numerals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exception #11:<\/strong> State, federal, and interstate highways are designated by Arabic numerals. US Route 41. I-90 or Interstate 90.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following are also spelled out if one hundred or less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To Hyphenate or Not<\/p>\n\n\n\n Number + noun:<\/strong> Hyphenate before a noun (bolded) else open<\/p>\n\n\n\n Number + abbreviation:<\/strong> Always open. 100 m. 2 kg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Number + percent:<\/strong> Not hyphenated unless giving a range (40\npercent).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Number, ordinal, +\nnoun:<\/strong> Hyphenated before a\nnoun, else open. On the third floor, take the twenty-first cubicle. Second-best\ndecision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers, spelled out: <\/strong>Twenty-one through ninety-nine are hyphenated;\notherwise open. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Age:<\/strong> a\nthree-year-old boy but the girl is four years<\/strong> old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fraction<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Money:<\/strong> Same rules applies: hyphenate before a noun,\nelse leave it open. A multimillion-dollar deal. A deal worth twenty million\ndollars. When used with symbol $<\/em>, leave it open. $20 million deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time:<\/strong> Usually open, hyphenate before a noun (same rule). At four forty. Five-fifty train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plurals and Punctuation of Numbers<\/p>\n\n\n\n My Takeaway<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Rules are important. Learning to follow them is as important as learning to break them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The year is turning, and I won\u2019t remind myself how old I\u2019m getting. But let that hope burn inside you, illuminate that darkest fear, that bleakest of yearning, and that impossible dream. Welcome 2020!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: The Chicago Manual of Style<\/em>, SEVENTEEN\nEDITION.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sunday, December 29, 2019Blog #8 of my learning from #TheChicagoManualOfStyle. Today is the last blog of 2019, also marking the midpoint of The Chicago Manual of Style (TCMOS) topics. The topic today is numbers. Numbers are unavoidable parts of our books, journals, articles, and blogs. We deal with money, dates, times, and statistics. Read on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1809,"parent":1807,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P6kaFb-v5","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1927"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1927"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1931,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1927\/revisions\/1931"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1807"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Blog #8 of my learning from #TheChicagoManualOfStyle.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n