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How to Write Numbers in Formal Papers

When writing formal papers, people often become confused when figuring out whether they should spell numbers out or use figures. How you write numbers depends on the style you use: Modern Language Association, American Psychological Association (APA) or The Chicago Manual of Style. If this paper is for a class, your teacher should have told you the style needed. If you're writing on your own, the choice is yours. However, if you're writing a psychology paper, your audience expects APA format.

Instructions

- 1
  Spell out numbers below ten, and use figures for numbers 10 and above when using APA style. Take these numbers for example: one, five, 15, 10, three, 106 and nine.
- 2
  Write out any numbers you can express in one or two words when using MLA style, such as seven, nineteen, twenty-two and ninety-eight. Use a hyphen between words for numbers 21 to 99.
- 3
  Spell out whole numbers from 1 to 100, round numbers and numbers starting sentences. Use figures for any other number when following the Chicago Manual of Style. Some examples: eighteen, thirty-two, ninety, 107, 309 and 211.

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