When to spell out numbers 1

[Volk359]

Greetings all,

I've been curious as to when a number should be spelled out or when it should be left in it's numerical form. For example:

I have two children, ages 5 and 7.

Is this more or less correct? (gramatically, too) I guess when counting things as long as it's a small number then it's spelled out but larger numbers are shown numerically. My two children or I have 2000 pennies in a jar but I wouldn't write it's the year two thousand five or my ninety eight Chevy. Maybe it’s a date thing.

Other examples come to mind, too. Is there a rule of thumb to use?

Thanks!

 

[SantaMufasa]

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

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[MakeItSo]

I was taught:
Numbers up to and including 12 - sorry: twelve - are usually spelt out (one syllable), numbers from 13 upwards (2+ syllables) are written as numbers.

However: usually means, I don't always stick to it myself. I often add my 2¢ instead of two cents.


[blue]An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. - "Mahatma" Mohandas K. Gandhi[/blue]

 

[Stella740pl]

MakeItSo,

Numbers up to and including 12 - sorry: twelve - are usually spelt out (one syllable)

But we don't have to make an exception for seven and eleven based on the number of syllables, do we?

 

[MakeItSo]

Ah! Touché!

Nope. No exceptions for minorities! :-D

[blue]An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. - "Mahatma" Mohandas K. Gandhi[/blue]