When a year is interrupted by a word or two, the English rule says to write out the number in words. That is always the fallback position. However, as always in reporting, numbers written in words do not always serve us well. Let’s perhaps consider a new way to do it. …during 19-, maybe, -98… …after 19-, probably, -63… I …
Sequential References
A sequential reference is a number that is part of a series of numbers, which usually follows the word that designates what the number is referring to. We consider a number to be “sequential” when it is in a series. If you live in Apartment 5, there is an assumption that there are Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4. This …
What If They Say “212”?
This question has popped up in seminars over the last several months. My answer is to put it into the transcript as “2012.” I know. You are yelling, “But that is not verbatim!” First of all, we are not verbatim all the time. When “goverment” is said, we put in “government.” For “accidently,” we put in “accidentally.” Second, I think …
“A Million” or “One Million” and Others
There is a recurring question about these kinds of numbers. What if it is “…sent a hundred dollars to him” or “…paid ten and a half” or “…a little over a million”? The answer is that these are technically not really numbers — “a million” and “a half” and “a hundred.” And English rules say that these should be written …
Ordinal Numbers in a Date
All dates are transcribed in figures. When the ordinal is added to a date when said — …on May 5th… — it is not good grammar. It is not correct to say the month and date and add the ordinal to the date. Whether you are going to transcribe it with the ordinal depends on how “verbatim” you are going …
Consistency for Numbers
Great seeing so many “old” familiar faces at DRA. Wow. It has been a few years. Glad to see you thriving in this wonderful field. There was a recent discussion on numbers and their form within a sentence. Overriding all the rules for numbers is the rule for consistency: If there are numbers that measure the same thing or the …
“The Years in 2000” Problem
Good morning, In Fergus Falls, MN, this morning, headed for Bismarck, ND, and then Grand Forks — two groups of fabulous North Dakota reporters. This question came up on my page on Facebook: “More and more since we have entered the year 2000 and beyond, people are starting to shorten the years as they say them. It’s not 2007; it’s …
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