Numbers

Use numbers for numerals 2 and above in body copy

Use words for ‘zero’ and ‘one’. Use numerals for numbers from 2 and above in body copy:

You could set up a playdate with just one other child to start with. 

The hungry toddler ate 3 bananas.

Exceptions: when to write one and zero as numerals

1. In a sentence that has a series of numbers below and above one, use all numerals: 

The hungry toddler ate 1 muesli bar, 4 slices of cheese and 15 sultanas.

2. In a sentence that discusses a statistic, use all numerals: 

Write this: In Australia, 1 in 1500 children like brussel sprouts.

Not this: In Australia, one in 1500 children like brussel sprouts.

3. Always use numerals for ages:

You might start hearing first words when your baby is 1 year old.

At preschool, your 4-year-old child might enjoy playing with other children.

4. In a sentence that presents a span of age or years, use all numerals and a hyphen:

From 0-18 months, babies just need a soft toothbrush and water to clean their teeth.

5. Use all numerals for sentences that present steps or instructions:

1. Pause.

2. Notice the emotion.

3. Connect the emotion to its cause.

In step 2 above, …

Exceptions: when to write numbers above 2 as words

In a sentence that begins with a numeral, use the word rather than the numeral:

Write this: Thirty people came to the conference.

Not this: 30 people came to the conference.

In these cases, hyphens are used to connect words up to 99 that consist of two words:

twenty-five

thirty-nine

ninety-nine

For numbers over 99, large round numbers do not take hyphens:

one hundred and twenty-five

Because this can be cumbersome, a sentence beginning with a large numeral is often better rewritten:

Write this: The preschool enrolled 87 new children this year.

Not this: Eighty-seven children enrolled at preschool this year.

Numbers in titles, headings and subheadings

The rule for presenting numbers in titles, headings and subheadings is the same as for presenting numbers in body copy: use numerals for numbers 2 and above, other than the exceptions noted above.

SEO considerations might also require variations to this rule in cases where we have reason to think that people are searching for a specific term with a preference for either numbers or words. Examples of this can be found in the pregnancy week by week article series and the developmental tracker articles.

Spans of age, time and money

In spans of age and time, always use numerals and hyphens, including when the numbers are under 2: 

Write this: 1-6 

Not this: one-6 or one to 6

Also note that this format applies to spans of years:

The figures for 1998-99 show increasing enrolments.

Use 2 dollar signs with spans of money:

$600-$1500 not $600-1500

Punctuating large numbers

Use neither spaces nor commas to present numbers with 4 digits or fewer:

Write 1000 not 1,000

Use a comma to present 5-digit numbers and above.

Write 22,000 not 22 000

Use the following table as a guide for punctuating large numbers presented as numerals in general text. 

Fractions

Use words for fractions whenever possible unless it's a whole number plus a fraction: 

Two-thirds of the children received chocolate frogs. (Note the use of the hyphen in ‘two-thirds’.) 

1½ (note no space)

2-4½ (not two to 4 ½)

Ordinal numbers

Write ordinals up to 'ninth' in words; use numerals for ordinals '10th' and over. Do not use a space between number and the suffixes st/nd/th and so on. Do not use superscript for suffixes: 

ninth month but 10th month

22nd month

30th to 32nd month

The exception is when a sentence has a string of ordinals with the first number less than 10 and final number more than ten: 

5th, 10th and 50th percentile

Use first, second, third, not firstly, secondly, thirdly. 

SEO considerations will largely determine the presentation of ordinals in articles titles and subheadings. 

Where SEO considerations are not relevant, article titles should spell out all ordinals: 

The third trimester

Percentages

Use the percentage sign (%) with no space between the numeral and the sign:

The feedback indicated that 99% of the children enjoyed the class.

Dates

In body text, present dates as follows:

Thursday, 19 October 2015

For short versions of dates, use:

19/10/2015

Decades

Don't use an apostrophe when representing decades in general text:

1980s      1990s      2000s

not 

1980’s      1990’s      2000’s

Times

Present times with a space between the numeral and am or pm:

9 am         7.15 pm

Note that 9 am does not require the .00 after the 9.

Ages

Always use numerals for ages:

1-year-old child (not 1 year old child)

Numeracy

Times counting:

Count by 2s, 3s and 10s etc

Units of measurement

• Use numerals not words when you’re referring to a unit of measurement.

• Don’t place a full stop after a unit of measurement.

• Don’t add ‘s’ for plural forms.

Telephone numbers

Phone numbers are written in the following way: 

(03) 8660 3500

In cases where the number might be useful to an international audience, write:

+61 3 8660 3500

Australia-wide numbers:

131 234

1800 444 555