I never know what way to write/type it

[simplyn2deep]

Writers (fic or otherwise): when you’re writing and you include a year, do you use numerical figures or spell out the year (i.e. 2009 vs. two-thousand nine)?

Same goes for dates…or really number in general.

Spell them out or use the actual number? I always get confused.

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Comments

[huntress69.livejournal.com]

1-9 are normally written out, 10-up are as is. (i.e. There were nine players/There were 17 players.) The only time you write them out as a word is at the start of a sentence. (Twelve people were at the bar.); dates I personally write as is - July 17, 1012

[simplyn2deep.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to keep as consistent as possible and it was getting a bit confusing for me

[tailoredshirt.livejournal.com]

I'd definitely just say 2009. I usually spell out numbers 1-10, but anything higher than that I will use the numerals (one, two, ten, 13, 200, etc.). I think it's also appropriate to spell something out when it's one word, like twelve. I think just be consistent with whatever you do.

Here's a quick link I found: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-rules-for-writing-numbers-and-numerals/ You might find some better links if you google it.

[simplyn2deep.livejournal.com]

thanks for that link. I'll check it out

[tkeylasunset.livejournal.com]

The "rule" is that you spell out numbers 1-10. The rest you can leave as numerals.

Times, dates, things represented by numbers, are generally left as numbers. 12:12 p.m. or January 2, 2011.

The one other rule is that if the sentence starts with a number, it is always spelled out:

Twenty years ago, he went back to China.

This is fine except if it's a year then it gets really confusing:

Two thousand twelve will be our year, she thought.

If there is anyway to avoid starting a sentence with a year, that's your best option.

These are "formal" rules. I don't worry as much about them in fiction. What's most important is that using a number isn't disruptive to the narrative flow. So the best rule in fiction is to write it the way you think people will know automatically what you mean.

I'd write the one sentence as

2012 will be our year, she thought.

Unless it's for a grade.

Does that make sense? Formal rules don't have to apply to fiction!

[simplyn2deep.livejournal.com]

That makes a lot of sense. I was mostly curious because I want it to be consistent. I remembered about spelling 1-9 (or 10), but the other stuff I wasn't sure of.

[bergeronprocess.livejournal.com]

The Associated Press rules I follow for professional writing ask for one through nine to be spelled out and then 10 up are numbers. As for dates, we do a thing where if you don't mention a year specifically, most months are abbreviated. For example, Feb. 25. But I'll just write out February 25, 2012. I don't know if anyone spells out a year like that except maybe on birth certificates or something!