Comments on: My 2 cents http://www.bloodywellwrite.com/2009/08/04/my-2-cents/ language + usage Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:36:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jon Westcot http://www.bloodywellwrite.com/2009/08/04/my-2-cents/comment-page-1/#comment-262 Jon Westcot Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:40:59 +0000 http://bloodywellwrite.com/?p=614#comment-262 Oddly, "The Elements of Style" seems to indicate that numbers should always be written as numbers unless they're in a quotation, in which case they're to be written as words. Imagine that -- three comments and three differing answers. ;) Oddly, “The Elements of Style” seems to indicate that numbers should always be written as numbers unless they’re in a quotation, in which case they’re to be written as words.

Imagine that — three comments and three differing answers. ;)

]]> By: bloodywellwrite http://www.bloodywellwrite.com/2009/08/04/my-2-cents/comment-page-1/#comment-261 bloodywellwrite Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:50:02 +0000 http://bloodywellwrite.com/?p=614#comment-261 It is more concise to write "$1.00" but not as fun. (Writers love words, yes? Yes.) The main reason I wrote "exactly" (perhaps the only reason) was to emphasize the exactness of the amount. I suppose I could've used a different amount (perhaps $4.37), in which case I wouldn't have had to write "exactly" at all. But since $1 or $1.00 could be construed as "a buck," which is rather nonspecific, I threw in "exactly" to solidify the particular amount in the reader's head. Concerning numbers — AP says to spell one through nine out and use numerals for anything above, with exceptions: Ages and measurements are always numerals (The 3-year-old was 38 inches tall) and, as the entry states, use numerals for any monetary amount less than a dollar (my 2 cents). It is more concise to write “$1.00″ but not as fun. (Writers love words, yes? Yes.) The main reason I wrote “exactly” (perhaps the only reason) was to emphasize the exactness of the amount. I suppose I could’ve used a different amount (perhaps $4.37), in which case I wouldn’t have had to write “exactly” at all. But since $1 or $1.00 could be construed as “a buck,” which is rather nonspecific, I threw in “exactly” to solidify the particular amount in the reader’s head.

Concerning numbers — AP says to spell one through nine out and use numerals for anything above, with exceptions: Ages and measurements are always numerals (The 3-year-old was 38 inches tall) and, as the entry states, use numerals for any monetary amount less than a dollar (my 2 cents).

]]> By: ileaneb http://www.bloodywellwrite.com/2009/08/04/my-2-cents/comment-page-1/#comment-260 ileaneb Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:27:17 +0000 http://bloodywellwrite.com/?p=614#comment-260 You're right. It doesn't make sense to use ¢. Hey, where the heck is that thing on my keyboard anyway? lol. You’re right. It doesn’t make sense to use ¢. Hey, where the heck is that thing on my keyboard anyway? lol.

]]> By: steakchorizo http://www.bloodywellwrite.com/2009/08/04/my-2-cents/comment-page-1/#comment-259 steakchorizo Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:13:29 +0000 http://bloodywellwrite.com/?p=614#comment-259 As an engineer, I'd prefer deleting the adverb and simply write $1.00. That is a more concise way to write exactly. Let's get back to proper use of significant figures. Who's with me? One other thing - I was taught that for numbers less than 20 they were supposed to be written out - eight, not 8. Am I dating myself? As an engineer, I’d prefer deleting the adverb and simply write $1.00. That is a more concise way to write exactly. Let’s get back to proper use of significant figures. Who’s with me?

One other thing – I was taught that for numbers less than 20 they were supposed to be written out – eight, not 8. Am I dating myself?

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