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Numbers in Legal Writing: Gilbert R. Hufana

The document discusses guidelines for using numbers in legal writing. It recommends spelling out numbers up to one hundred and using figures for larger numbers. Short numbers of one or two words are spelled out, while longer numbers are better written in figures. Rules are provided for pluralizing numbers, using numbers as nouns or adjectives, fractions, ordinals, and acceptable uses of figures.

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29 views

Numbers in Legal Writing: Gilbert R. Hufana

The document discusses guidelines for using numbers in legal writing. It recommends spelling out numbers up to one hundred and using figures for larger numbers. Short numbers of one or two words are spelled out, while longer numbers are better written in figures. Rules are provided for pluralizing numbers, using numbers as nouns or adjectives, fractions, ordinals, and acceptable uses of figures.

Uploaded by

Janet
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NUMBERS IN LEGAL WRITING

GILBERT R. HUFANA
Professor, Legal Writing I
NUMBERS IN WRITING

• The decision whether to use figures or words when


writing numbers is the writer’s choice.
• Many lawyers follow the academic writing
convention, which is to write the numbers in words
up to one hundred.
• The modern trend, however, is to use figures except
for very small numbers (10 and below) which are
spelled out in words.
• When numbers begin a sentence, they are usually
spelled out.
SHORT NUMBERS

• One- or two-word numbers are spelled out.


• Hyphenated numbers between twenty-one and
ninety-nine are considered as one word.

• Examples:
1. She turned forty this year.
2. The law firm has twenty-five associates.
LONG NUMBERS

• Long numbers are more than two words when written


out. They are better in figures.

• Example:
I bought the property with an area of 530 square
meters for 750,000 pesos.
PLURAL

• To pluralize, add ‘s or s to the number. Either is


correct.
• Although modern writes prefer s without the
apostrophe.
• Example:
• The 1970s saw the renaissance of the local film
industry.
THE NUMBER, A NUMBER

• The number is singular.


• A number is plural.

• Examples:
1. The number of cases filed this month has
dwindled.
2. A number of lawyers are attending the
convention.
COLLECTIVES

• Where a unit of measurement is used collectively, it is


singular.
• Where the unit of measurement refers to the
individuals forming part of the group, it is plural.
• Examples:
1. Over two-third of the auditorium is occupied.
2. Two-third of the students are volunteering.
ADJECTIVAL COMPOUNDS

• When units of measure modify nouns or pronouns


they are called adjectival compounds.
• They are hyphenated.
• Examples:
1. He owns a four-door apartment.
2. The speaker delivered a 15-minute speech on the
ills of modern education.
3. Your first-class treatment will be long
remembered.
ORDINAL NUMBERS

• Also called ordinal numerals, indicate degree or


position in a series, e.g. first, second etc.
• They may function as nouns. E.g., She placed third in
the midwifery examination.
• An ordinal number may function as an adjectival
compound; in which case, it must be hyphenated.
FRACTIONS

• If used as nouns, they are not hyphenated.


• Example:
One half of the class is going to the beach.

• if used as adjectival compounds, they are


hyphenated.
• Example:
The plywood thickness measures two-third inch.
NUMBERS AFTER NUMBERS

• In case a number follows other numbers, the earlier is


spelled out while the later is written in figures.

• Example:
He bought two 10-wheeler trucks in Cebu.
WHERE FIGURES ARE ACCEPTABLE

• Addresses: 321 V. Rama Ave., Cebu City


• Dates: August 25, 1963
• Decimals: 0.05
• Division of Books: Genesis 1:1
• Fractions: 2/3
• Money: Php 990.00
• No. of Identification: Serial No. 574830-09
• Percentages: 10%
• Scores/Grades: 97-96
• Statistics: Average Grade among freshmen: 1.9
• Survey: 2 out of 10
• Temperature: 24°C

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