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Understanding Numbers in Writing

1. The Core Rule: Spell Out One Through Nine, Use Numerals for 10+

This is the foundation of AP Style number usage.

Spell Out (1–9)

  • one player
  • five games
  • nine updates

Use Numerals (10+)

  • 10 points
  • 14 wins
  • 27 users

This rule applies to most uses unless a specific category overrides it (ages, dates, time, money, etc.).

2. Ages: Always Use Numerals

Ages are always numerals, no matter how small the number.

Examples

  • a 5-year-old boy
  • The player is 7 years old.
  • a 3-year contract
  • The 19-year-old scored twice.

Hyphenation Rule

When age is used as a modifier before a noun, hyphenate it:

  • a 5-year-old boy

When age comes after the noun, no hyphens:

  • The boy is 5 years old.

3. Dates: Always Numerals

AP Style uses numerals for dates, no matter the number.

Examples

  • Jan. 3, 2026
  • Feb. 14
  • Oct. 31

Months to Abbreviate

AP Style abbreviates:

  • Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.

Spell out:

  • March, April, May, June, July

4. Time: Numerals + a.m./p.m.

AP Style uses numerals for time and lowercase a.m./p.m. with periods.

Examples

  • 7 p.m.
  • 6:30 a.m.
  • noon (never 12 p.m.)
  • midnight (never 12 a.m.)

No Zeros for On-the-Hour Times

  • 7 p.m. (not 7:00 p.m.)

5. Percent: Use the Word “percent” (Not the Symbol)

AP Style spells out percent and uses numerals with it.

Examples

  • 5 percent
  • 12 percent
  • 0.5 percent
  • The team’s chances rose 20 percent.

Never Use %

AP Style does not use the percent symbol in standard text.

6. Money: Use the Dollar Sign + Numerals

AP Style uses $ + numerals for money amounts.

Examples

  • $5
  • $10 million
  • $3.49
  • $250,000
  • $1 billion

Do NOT Spell Out “dollars”

Incorrect:

five dollars  

Correct:

$5

7. Other Important AP Number Rules

A. Scores → Always Numerals

  • The team won 27-24.
  • They lost 3-2.

B. Rankings → Use “No.”

  • No. 1 team
  • No. 7 ranking

C. Dimensions → Always Numerals

  • 6-foot player
  • 5-by-7 room
  • 3-inch screen

D. Millions/Billions → Use Numerals + Word

  • 3 million users
  • $2 billion deal

E. Decades → No Apostrophe

  • the 1990s
  • the ’80s (apostrophe before the decade, not after)

8. Common Number Mistakes Writers Must Avoid

A. Spelling out numbers above nine

Incorrect:

The team scored fourteen points.  

Correct:

The team scored 14 points.

B. Using % instead of “percent”

Incorrect:

5% of users…  

Correct:

5 percent of users…

C. Writing out ages

Incorrect:

a five-year-old boy  

Correct:

a 5-year-old boy

D. Adding zeros to time

Incorrect:

7:00 p.m.  

Correct:

7 p.m.

E. Using apostrophes in decades

Incorrect:

the 1990’s  

Correct:

the 1990s

9. Examples in Real Article Writing

Sports

  • The 27-year-old scored 14 points in 7 minutes.

News

  • The bill passed with 62 percent support.

Entertainment

  • The movie premieres at 7 p.m. on Jan. 3.

Tech

  • The update reached 5 million downloads.

10. Final Takeaway for Total Apex Writers

Numbers are one of the most important AP Style areas — and one of the easiest to get wrong.

AP Style Essentials

  • Spell out one through nine
  • Use numerals for 10+
  • Ages → always numerals
  • Dates → always numerals
  • Time → numerals + a.m./p.m.
  • Percent → spell out “percent”
  • Money → $5, $10 million

Mastering numbers helps contributors produce clean, polished, high‑performing content across every Total Apex vertical — from news to gaming to sports to lifestyle.