AP Style ReviewAP Style Review

NumbersNumbers

In General…In General…

Spell out one to nine. Use numerals Spell out one to nine. Use numerals for 10 and above. EXCEPTIONS:for 10 and above. EXCEPTIONS:• AddressesAddresses• AgesAges• MoneyMoney• TimeTime• PercentagesPercentages• Betting Odds, Scores and RatiosBetting Odds, Scores and Ratios• Measurements/DimensionsMeasurements/Dimensions• TemperaturesTemperatures

In General…In General… Use a combination of numerals and Use a combination of numerals and

words with numbers in the millions words with numbers in the millions and larger. and larger.

Use a comma for numbers with more Use a comma for numbers with more than three digits.than three digits.

Spell out numbers at the beginning Spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence or rephrase the of a sentence or rephrase the sentence to avoid beginning with a sentence to avoid beginning with a number. number.

Hyphenate fractions when they are Hyphenate fractions when they are spelled out.spelled out.

DatesDates

The AP preference is for styling dates The AP preference is for styling dates as: month, day, and year, without the as: month, day, and year, without the ordinal letters and a comma only ordinal letters and a comma only between the day and the year. between the day and the year. • New parking permits go on sale New parking permits go on sale

Jan. 6, 2000. Jan. 6, 2000. NOTNOT New parking permits go on sale New parking permits go on sale

January 6th, 2000. January 6th, 2000. NOTNOT New parking permits go on sale New parking permits go on sale

6 January 2000. 6 January 2000.

MoneyMoney

The $ sign goes BEFORE the amount:The $ sign goes BEFORE the amount:• The book cost $4.The book cost $4.

The word cents is spelled out:The word cents is spelled out:• Can you loan me 25 cents?Can you loan me 25 cents?

Money in the millions and billions Money in the millions and billions • Carry out the amount by two decimal Carry out the amount by two decimal

points: $4.25 millionpoints: $4.25 million• Spell out million, billion, etc.Spell out million, billion, etc.

Ordinal NumbersOrdinal Numbers

Spell out ordinal numbers from first to Spell out ordinal numbers from first to ninth:ninth:• She placed fourth out of 525 competitors. She placed fourth out of 525 competitors.

Use numbers and ordinal placement Use numbers and ordinal placement letters for 10letters for 10thth and above: and above:• The 21st century has been fodder for many The 21st century has been fodder for many

imaginative novelists and entrepreneurial imaginative novelists and entrepreneurial visionaries during the latter half of the 20th visionaries during the latter half of the 20th century. century.

TimeTime

Use numerals Use numerals a.m. and p.m. (lowercase letters, a.m. and p.m. (lowercase letters,

no spaces between periods)no spaces between periods) Use noon and midnight in place of Use noon and midnight in place of

12 p.m. and 12 a.m., respectively, for 12 p.m. and 12 a.m., respectively, for clarity. clarity.

No need to use :00 if the time is on No need to use :00 if the time is on the hourthe hour

Years and DecadesYears and Decades

A year is the ONLY number that can A year is the ONLY number that can begin a sentencebegin a sentence

No need for apostrophe in the plural No need for apostrophe in the plural form of a year form of a year (it doesn’t belong to anything…it’s (it doesn’t belong to anything…it’s referring to the 10-year span of a decade = multiple years)referring to the 10-year span of a decade = multiple years)

• the 1880s the 1880s • the 80s the 80s

Other Use of NumbersOther Use of Numbers

Room NumbersRoom Numbers

Social Security NumbersSocial Security Numbers

Telephone NumbersTelephone Numbers