Melissa Harkin

Counting on clarity

Numbers might not seem sexy, but they are important elements of your manuscript. Whether it’s your protagonist’s 10th cup of coffee, the best friend’s $3.5 million app, or the kid’s first-place science fair win, numbers tell us more than just quantities—they tell a story. But let’s be real, nobody wants to read a chapter that feels like a spreadsheet. Here’s how to keep your numbers clean, clear, and consistent, so your readers can count on your prose without pulling out a calculator.

General numbers: Spell out numbers from one to ninety-nine, unless they are part of dialogue, time, dates, or measurements. Use numerals for numbers 100 and above.
Example:
– I hadn’t seen him in twenty years.
– “Room 302,” she said.

• Money: Use numerals with the appropriate currency symbol or name. If the amount is round, you may spell it out in narration, but for exact amounts, numerals are preferred.
  Examples:
  • He handed her $5.
  • “The company is worth $1.2 million,” he said.
  • Her net worth was estimated at two billion dollars.
• Time: Use numerals for time unless it is part of dialogue or intentionally written out for stylistic reasons. Use a.m. and p.m. for clarity.
  Examples:
  • The meeting is at 3:00 p.m.
  • “I’ll be there at three o’clock,” she said.
• Ages: Use numerals for ages. Spell out ages only in dialogue if it enhances the character’s voice.
  Examples:
  • She is 35 years old.
  • “I’m turning thirty next month,” he said.
• Years and dates: Always use numerals for years, dates, and decades. Avoid apostrophes in decades.
  Examples:
  • He was born in 1985.
  • It happened on April 15, 2002.
  • Fashion from the 1990s is making a comeback.
• Hours and durations: Use numerals for exact hours and durations, but spell them out in casual narration.
  Examples:
  • The flight lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes.
  • It felt like three hours had passed.
• Measurements: Use numerals with measurement abbreviations (e.g., “5 miles,” “3 lbs.”) for precision but spell them out in informal narration.
  Examples:
  • He ran 5 miles every morning.
  • She said it was about five miles to the next town.
• In dialogue: Use the form that feels natural for the character’s speech, often leaning toward spelling out numbers.
  Examples:
  • “That costs twenty bucks,” she said.
  • “It’s going to take 15 minutes tops.”

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