Spelling out numbers

In general, spell out numbers of one or two words or those that begin a sentence.

If a sentence begins with a number, spell out the number or rewrite the sentence.

Rewriting the sentence may be a better alternative, and it is often less awkward if the number is long.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: 150 [numeral] children in our program need expensive dental treatment. Revised sentence: In our program, 150 [numeral] children need expensive dental treatment.

When one number immediately follows another, spell out one and use figures for the other.

three 100-meter events

25 four-poster beds

Exercise: Numbers

Related topic:

Hyphens with fractions and compound numbers