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How to write numbers in words
A few rules cover almost everything:
| Number | US style | UK style |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | twenty-one | twenty-one |
| 105 | one hundred five | one hundred and five |
| 1,250 | one thousand two hundred fifty | one thousand two hundred and fifty |
| 2,008 | two thousand eight | two thousand and eight |
| 1,000,000 | one million | one million |
- Hyphenate 21 to 99: thirty-four, ninety-nine.
- UK English adds "and" before the last part: one hundred and five.
- No "s" on scale words after a number: two million, not two millions.
How to write a check
- Choose Check amount ($).
- Type the amount, like 1,250.75.
- Copy: "One thousand two hundred fifty and 75/100 dollars".
- Start writing at the far left of the line and draw a line through the empty space after it.
Ordinal numbers
Ordinals show position: first, second, twenty-third, one hundredth. Choose Ordinal to turn any whole number into its ordinal form, handy for anniversaries and edition numbers on prints.
Decimals
Decimals are read digit by digit after "point": 3.75 becomes "three point seven five". Money is the exception, which is why the check mode uses cents.
Numbers in art
Written-out numbers feel calm and literary on a print: No. twelve of fifty looks more crafted than "12/50". Pair them with small caps or a script title in the Lettering Studio.
Questions artists ask
How do you write 1,500 in words?
One thousand five hundred (US), or one thousand five hundred in UK English too, since there is no tens or units part to add “and” before.
How do I write cents on a check?
Write the dollars in words, then “and”, then the cents as a fraction over 100: “and 75/100 dollars”.
Do I hyphenate numbers like 45?
Yes. Numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine take a hyphen: forty-five.
How big a number can it convert?
Up to the quadrillions, including decimals and negative numbers.
Founder and editor of Letras Bonitas Art. Builds the tools and writes the guides on this site for artists who letter on screens. How we review our pages.
