CENTURIES

Spell out first century through ninth century; then use figures.

second century

the late 18th century

a 10th-century B.C. vase

late 18th-century chair

11th-century architecture

mid-17th century

mid-17th-century architecture

Note: 1801 (not 1800) through 1900 is the 19th century.

Be careful when using the term turn of the century that the meaning is clear. The turn of the century from the perspective of 2006 would be the change from the 20th to 21st century.