Group 2 Numbers

​PROPER USE OF NUMBERS

By GROUP 2

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly applies the rule for expressing numbers?

• The police officers caught the three assailants in the

  murder case.

• The police officers caught the 3 assailants in the

  murder case.

7.1 General rule

Use words to express cardinal numbers zero through nine;

use numerals to express 10 and above.
The same rule applies for ordinal numbers, the letters of which are appended in superscript.
Use commas without spaces for numbers with four digits or more.

General Rule

Example

• The police officers caught the three assailants in the

murder case.

• When the constitutional requirements are met, the

president can suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas

corpus for 60 days.

7.2 Exceptions

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly applies the rule for back-to-back modifiers?

• The recipe calls for 3 5-ounce cans of tuna.

• She bought two 12-inch rulers for the project.

Exceptions

The list below comprises exceptions to the general rule. When written in words, compound numbers twenty-one to ninety-nine should be hyphenated.

Numbers in a quoted material

When the numbers appear in a direct quote, write as is. However, it is better if the quote be paraphrased instead, in which case, the general rule applies.

Numbers that begin a sentence

Spell out numbers that begin a sentence. When possible, reword the sentence to avoid beginning with a number.

Example:

Two hundred seventy-five people died in the earthquake yesterday, according to the news.

Proper names

If a number is part of a proper name, such as an organization’s preference or official name, adopt the styling used, be it word or figure.

Examples:
Branch 2, Regional Trial Court, 16th Judicial Region

20th Century Studios

Twentieth Century Hardware

Numbers grouped for comparison

If a sentence compares numbers in a particular category, use figures for all numbers in that category.
Examples:
The ballroom competitor got scores of 8, 9, 9, and 10 from the four scrupulous judges.

Adjacent numbers

To clarify back-to-back modifiers, spell out the smaller number. If both numbers are the same, spell out one of them.

Examples:

The movie was interrupted by 15 ten-minute commercials.
She bought eighteen 18-wheeler trucks.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly applies the rule: Spell out numbers in figures of speech or certain common expressions?

• 50-50 chance

• Fifty-fifty chance

7.2.6 Numbers in common expressions

Spell out numbers in figures of speech or certain common expressions. Examples:

Ten Commandments

Roaring Twenties

Fifty-fifty chance

Negative integers

When the number is a negative integer, use numerals.

Examples:

The temperature reached -1 degree Celsius.

Age

Express age in figures, except when it begins a sentence, in which case, follow Rule 7.2.2 and spell out.

• Where “years” or “years old” are not written, the figure is presumed to be in years.

• Use hyphens for ages that serve as substitute for a noun, or as phrasal adjectives modifying a noun.
  An estimate of an age need not have an apostrophe.

Age

Examples:

• The road crash left the victim’s 6-month-old baby orphaned.

• The company turned 30 years old this year.

• The beloved associate justice is turning 70 this January.

Decimals

Use figures for decimals. When the decimal is less than one, add a leading zero, except when the quantity will never be greater than one.

Examples:

The police officers confiscated 0.440 gram of shabu.
The assailant used a .45-caliber pistol to shoot the private complainant.

Decimals

If dealing with decimals of different place values, add more zeroes to make them uniform. When decimals and whole numbers are mixed, add a trailing zero to the whole numbers.
Example:
Ella’s grades came out: 98.9% for Math, 93.5% for English, and 74.0% for History.

Reference lists, footnotes, tables

To save space, use figures in reference lists, footnotes,

and tables, even if the number is from zero to nine.

Dates

When writing dates, the day and year are written in figures.
It will be discussed by Group 3.

Voting results

When reporting voting results, use figures and the term “to.” If the phrase involving the votes functions as a phrasal adjective before the noun it modifies, it must be hyphenated; otherwise, the hyphen is

not needed.

Examples:

The 14-to-1 ruling in favor of the administrationstirred public outcry.

The vote was 14 to 1, with the most senior justiceas the lone dissenter.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly applies the rule: Pluralize spelled-out numbers by adding -s or -es. Pluralize figures by adding -s?

• Lovella’s phone number has several sixes in it.

• Lovella’s phone number has several 6s in it.

7.3 Plural forms of numbers

Pluralize spelled-out numbers by adding -s or -es. Pluralize figures by adding -s.

Examples:

Lovella’s phone number has several sixes in it.

The ballroom contestant received 10s across the board.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly applies the rule:
For exact sums of money, use figures. When it begins a sentence, spell out the amount. Place the currency directly before the numeral with a space. “.00” is not necessary for whole numbers unless used consistently throughout the text.

• ₱50 pesos was donated by each participant.

• Fifty pesos was donated by each participant.

7.4 Exact sums of money

Figures for exact sums of money, generally

For exact sums of money, use figures. However, when it begins a sentence, follow Rule 7.2.2, in which case, spell out.

Place the currency directly before the numeral. Put a space between the currency and the numeral.

Figures for exact sums of money, generally

If the amount is a whole number, “.00” is not necessary, but it may be added, if it is consistent for all whole numbers throughout the text Examples:
In an advisory, the oil company said that diesel prices may decrease by PHP 0.80 to PHP 1.20 per liter in the coming week.

Estimates, numbers in millions and higher

For monetary estimates or numbers in millions and

higher, limit the use of zeroes and replace them ith the words “million,” “billion,” or “trillion,” as the case may be.
Example:
South Korea proposed a budget of KRW 639 trillion for next year.

Currency amount as compound modifier

Do not use hyphens when the currency amount is

used as a compound modifier
Example:

PHP 700,560.00 to PHP 950,554.00 price range

Penalties in the dispositive portion

In the dispositive portion of the ruling, write the penalties, awards of damages, or other monetary awards in figures.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly applies the rule:
When writing large numbers (e.g., population), use a combination of numerals and words. For figures in millions or higher, reduce the number of zeroes by indicating “million,” “billion,” or “trillion.”?

• The city has a population of 3,500,000 people.

• The company earned 2,000,000,000 pesos in revenue.

• The country’s population reached 3.5 million last year.

• The organization raised 1,000,000 pesos for charity

7.5 Large numbers

When writing large numbers (e.g., population), use a combination of numerals and words. For figures in millions or higher, reduce the number of zeroes by indicating “millions,”“billions,” or “trillions,” etc.

Examples:

The world is home to 7 billion people.

As of January 2023, the number of social media users in

the Philippines was 84.45 million.

7.6 Units of measurement

In writing units of measurement, follow the general rule for the number (i.e., words for numbers zero tonine, and figures for numbers 10 and above), and spell out the unit of measurement

Example:

Martha finished her 10-kilometer run today,which is an improvement from her nine-kilometer run last week

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly applies the rule:
In writing units of measurement, follow the general rule for the number (words for zero to nine, figures for 10 and above), and spell out the unit of measurement.?

• The box weighs eight kilograms.

• The tank holds twelve liters of water.

• The child is 5 ft tall.

• The recipe calls for 3 cups of sugar.

Units of measurement

Joining numbers and units of measurement

Use a hyphen to join a number and a unit of measurement when used as a modifier.

Example:

The laborer would carry 20-kilogram sacks during her work. On busy days, she would also help carry the five-kilogram sacks.

Units of measurement

Units of measurements in formatted data

In writing units of measurement for reference lists, footnotes, and tables, always use fgures for the number and the abbreviated form of the unit, to save space.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly applies the rule:
Use words to express common fractions, as well as mixed numbers, where the denominator is from 2 to 19. Use a hyphen.?

• The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of sugar.

• The child ate one-half of the chocolate bar.

7.7 Fractions

Expressing common fractions

Use words to express common fractions, as well as mixed numbers, where the denominator is from 2 to 19. Use a hyphen.

Examples:

The teacher was disappointed that one-fifth of the class flunked the exam.

Fractions

Figures for mixed numbers

Use figures when whole numbers, fractions, and mixed numbers appear together. When expressing mixed numbers as figures, insert a space between the whole number and the fraction. Do not use a

hyphen.
Example:

The piece of wood measured 2 by ½ by 12 ¼inches.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly applies the rule:
Use figures and the percent sign (%) for percentages. When the sentence begins with the percentage, spell out the number and the word “percent.”

• 25% of the students passed the exam.

• Twenty-five percent of the students passed the exam.

• 25 percent of the students passed the exam.

• Twenty-five % of the students passed the exam

7.8 Percentages

Styling percentages

When writing percentages, use figures and place the percent sign (%) next to the number.

When the sentence begins with the percentage, Rule 7.2.2 applies, in which case, spell out thenumber and the word “percent.” “Percent” is

written as one word, not two (i.e., “per cent”), and in regular roman, not in italics.

Percentages

Styling percentages

Examples:

The bright student shockingly got a score of 78% in her Math test.

Seventy-five percent of the earth comprises oceans, according to the elementary teacher.

Percentages

Pairs or series of percentages

In pairs or series of percentages, repeat the percent sign.

Example:

Around 10% to 15% of the students passed the extremely long exam.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly applies the rule:
When writing the exact time, express it in figures, followed by a.m. or p.m. Exact hours may or may not include “:00,” as long as usage is consistent. Put a space between the figure and “a.m.” or “p.m.”

• The meeting starts at 9:00a.m. sharp.

• he meeting starts at 9 a.m. sharp.

• The meeting starts at nine a.m. sharp.

• The meeting starts at 9am sharp.

7.9 Period of time

Exact time

When writing the exact time, express it in figures, followed by a.m. or p.m. Exact hours may or may not be written with “:00,” as long as its use or nonuse is consistent throughout the text. Put a space between the figure and “a.m.” or “p.m.

Period of time

Specific cases that use “o’clock”

In special cases, where the format “o’clock” is not used to refer to time, retain its usage.
Example:

The medico-legal certificate found lacerations at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions on the rape survivor’s hymen.

Period of time

Other periods of time

As for other periods of time, such as years, months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds, the general rule stands.

Zero to nine are written in words; 10 and above in figures. When the sentence begins with the time, Rule 7.2.2 applies, in which case, spell out.

Period of time

Other periods of time

Examples:

The six-hour ride from Manila to Baguio was

exhausting.

The hall of justice took 10 years to be erected.

Period of time

Penalties in the dispositive portion

In the dispositive portion of the ruling, where the penalty includes deprivation of liberty for a stated period, stick to the general rule: one to nine are written in words; 10 above in figures.

Period of time

Penalties in the dispositive portion

Example:

Accused-appellant Juan Dela Cruz is GUILTY of rape through sexual assault under Article 266-A(2) of the Revised Penal Code in relation

to Section 5(b) of Republic Act No. 7610. He is sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penaltyof 12 years, 10 months, and 21 days of reclusion

temporal, as minimum, to 15 years, six months, and 20 days of reclusion temporal, as maximum. He is also ORDERED to pay the victim PHP

50,000.00 each as civil indemnity, moral damages, and exemplary damages.