NZE: How to write numbers in New Zealand English writing

Related article:
NZE: How to write times and dates.
 
​
We all know the rhyme 1, 2, buckle my shoe. 3, 4, knock on the door.

​Or should it be One, two, buckle my shoe. Three, four, knock on the door?

This article is about how to use numbers and numerals within formal and informal writing to make sure it is consistent and easy to read. These rules are not applicable to very technical or scientific writing, and in those cases the appropriate style guide should be referred to.
​
When using numbers in writing, whether it’s fiction, non-fiction or business documents, the main issue is whether to spell out the number or whether to use figures, but there are some other rules and exceptions to consider.
​

To spell out or not to spell out
The first thing to consider is what kind of text you are writing and for what audience. The more figures, rather than spelled out numbers, the more technical the text appears. Sometimes the decision will be made with space restrictions in mind.

There is no set rule; there are just guidelines. But it is, as always, important to be consistent within the document.

For literary writing, it was traditionally preferred to spell out all numbers, but today is it acceptable for numbers one to ninety-nine to be spelled out and to use figures for numbers 100 and over, except in certain circumstances (see the rules and exceptions below).

For business writing, it depends on how technical your document is. A general rule of thumb is to spell out from one to nine and use figures for numbers 10 and over, again with the rules and exceptions below.

For websites it leans more towards business writing and figures are used more than words.

For technical writing, see your technical style guide.

Consistency within a paragraph
In a paragraph with numbers which sit within both ranges (either above and below 10, or above and below 100, as outlined above), be consistent with figures in that paragraph only. The rest of the document will continue to use the guidelines above.

• The number of pages in each chapter in his book were 80, 101, and 130 respectively.
• not The number of pages in each chapter in his book were eighty, 101 and 130 respectively.

• They picked 45 apples from one tree, 74 from another, and 104 from the third.
• not They picked forty-five apples from one tree, seventy-four from another, and 104 from the third.

 
However, when two groups of numbers are being used in the same sentence. It can help clarity to spell out one group and use numerals for the other.

• It is thought that 70 per cent of people over the age of eighty like to do crosswords, whereas only 50 per cent of people between the ages of twenty and eighty do.
• not It is thought that 70 per cent of people over the age of 80 like to do crosswords, whereas only 50 per cent of people between the ages of 20 and 80 do.

 

Rules and Exceptions

Beginning of a sentence
A number should always be spelled out at the beginning of a sentence, or the sentence rewritten to avoid the figure at the beginning of the sentence. Figures should be used in the rest of the sentence.

• Fifty-nine per cent of children like beans, but only 32% like Brussels sprouts.
• not 59% of children like beans, but only 32% like Brussels sprouts.

 
Sentences with dates and long numbers with decimals would be better rewritten than spelled out.

• In 1949,
• not 1949 was the year
• not Nineteen forty-nine was the year

A sentence starting with a number such as 2.154 should be rewritten.

• not 2.154 should not be at the beginning of a sentence.
• not Two point one five four should not be at the beginning of the sentence.

 
Punctuation
In non-specialist text, use a comma to mark the thousands in numbers with four or more figures.

• 1,234
• 2,468,158

Check your style guide for scientific and technical texts.
 
For very large numbers, it’s preferable to write million or billion after the decimal to aid the reader.

• 4.2 million not 4,200,000
• 1.524 45 billion not 1,524,450,000

 
For long numbers which include a decimal, use a thin space instead of commas.

• 12 456.524

 
Compound numbers use hyphens when spelled out.

• Forty-five
• One hundred and thirty-five
• In her hundred-and-second year

Spacing
In most forms of writing, with the exception of scientific or technical text and some specific style guides, it is preferred to insert a space between the numeral and the abbreviation of the unit of measurement. Though it's now also become accepted to close up the space in less formal texts.

• 7 kph
• 52 km

               
When using symbols, it is always closed up.

• 7%
• 32°C
• $5
• 25c

Number ranges and elision
An en dash without spaces is used to show missing numbers (elision of numbers), for example with page numbers or years. However, don’t elide numbers in headings, or with vital information such as the years of birth and death.

Use the fewest figures possible without losing clarity.

• 30–4
• 2001–5
• 132–6

If it’s not clear with one figure, add figures.

• 132–45
• 1459–531

 
Don’t elide years that go across a century.

• 1985–2010
• not 1985–10

 
Write years BC in full for clarity.

• 765–567 BC

 
When writing about a range of years, use from … to or during, not both.

• The war from 1939 to 1945
• The 1939–45 war
• not The war from 1939–45
• The period between 1939 and 1945
• not The period between 1939–45
• The period 1939–45

 
With ranges which include a negative number, it’s better to use words rather than a dash.

• The temperature ranged from -25 to -2
• not The temperature range was -25–-2

 
If necessary for clarity and meaning, repeat the figures.

• 1–2,000 means from 1 to 2,000
• 1,000–2,000 means from 1,000 to 2,000

 
With a unit of measurement, don’t repeat the unit unless it’s usually closed up.

• 3–5 km
• 2°–5°
• 3%–10%

 
Approximate numbers
If a number is used approximately, then spell it out. If it is used precisely, use figures.

• New Zealand has a population of just under five million people.
• New Zealand has a population of 4.88 million people
• He has about a thousand sheep.
• He has 1012 sheep.

 
Numbers used indicatively should be spelled out.

• He brought a dozen toys with him to school. [not 12]
• We must have told him a hundred times he didn’t need that many toys. [not 100]
• Thousands of birds were wading in the pond. [not 1,000s]

 
Ordinal numbers
Ordinal numbers are those that indicate a place in a series. First, second, third, fourth, etc.

Traditionally these were spelled out from first to ninety-ninth, but today it is more common to see them spelled out from first to ninth, and figures for numbers higher than that.

• We were the first in the queue.
• The book was set in the 16th century.
• It was their 50th wedding anniversary.
• It was her 21st birthday.

 
Superscripts for ordinals are no longer used in New Zealand English, though you will need to overrule Microsoft Word’s autocorrect to stop it.

• 21st century

 
Fractions
Fractions are usually spelled out in writing, except in scientific or technical texts.

• Two-thirds of the children wore hats.
• About half of all children like to wear hats.

 
Fractions that are long and awkward when spelled out can be written as fractions in informal writing.

• It took them 2 ¾ hours to get to the top.
• But in formal writing: It took them two and three quarters of an hour to get to the top.

 
Hyphens in fractions are preferred, but can be left out.

• Two-thirds
• Two thirds
• A three-and-a-half-hour walk.    

               
Don’t use a hyphen between the whole number and the fraction.

• One and two-thirds

 
If abbreviations or symbols are used, the number is always in figures, and fractions are shown as decimals.

• The sign was 4.25 km away.
• The sign was 4.25 kilometres away.
• not The sign was 4 ¼ km away.

 
Age
Use figures for age.

• He was 25 years old when he adopted three dogs.

 
But in informal writing, it is acceptable to spell it out.

• The two-year-old
• The thirty-three-year-old

 
When using ordinals or decades, spell it out.

• In his forty-fifth year
• In her teens
• In his twenties

               
Units of measurement
Spell out numbers with spelled out units of measurement, but figures can be used with abbreviated units of measurement or spelled out forms.

• 51 km
• fifty-one kilometres
• not fifty-one km
• 6 km/h
• 6 kilometres per hour
• 52 mm
• 52 millimetres

Note: the form using the solidus (/) is preferred, though kph is also common.      

Money
Money is usually shown with figures, but can be spelled out in informal text.

• He had ten dollars left.
• He had a $10 note in his pocket.

               
Larger amounts can be combined with symbols and words.

• $2 million
• NZ$5 billion
• $5 b, though some styles prefer $5b

 
Cents use the symbol closed up.

• 50c

 
Only add the .00 if needed in context.

• He had $10.
• She had $15.00 after he had received $5.50 back.

 
Percentages
Percentages are usually written as figures, regardless of whether you use the % symbol or write out per cent, or how high the number is.

• Only 2 per cent of the committee voted for him.
• Just over 56% of commuters prefer to walk.
• They predicted 4% would vote no.

Per cent and percent are both used, though per cent is preferred in British English and percent is preferred in US English.
 
Exceptions
There are some exceptions to the rules on when to spell out or use punctuation.
 

• Street numbers: 5467 Main Street
• Zip/Postal codes: Christchurch 4521
• Page numbers: pp 2564–6
• Years: 2020, 24000 BC
• Parts of books: p. 24, Chapter 9
• Scores of sports games: they won 3–2
• Distances of races: the 400 metres
• Highway numbers: SH1, SH79
• Phone numbers: (02)123 4567

 
What next?
If you have written a book in New Zealand English and this all sounds too overwhelming, I can help. 

I am a copy-editor and proofreader based in New Zealand. My business, Clearlingo Editing and Proofreading, caters to all writers of fiction and non-fiction books. I can discuss with you where your book is at and what you need to do next.
​
For more information on how I can help you make your book shine, please contact me on: www.clearlingo.co.nz/contact.

I would love to hear from you.​
 

Sources:
Hughes, J., & Wallace, D. (2010). Fit to Print : The Writing & Editing Style Guide for Aotearoa New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: Dunmore Publishing.
Oxford University Press, (2016). New Oxford Style Manual (3rd ed.). United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.