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AP Style for Money and Numbers

1. Why AP Style for Money & Numbers Matters

A writer who mishandles numbers or money formatting looks sloppy, inconsistent, or unprofessional.

A writer who follows AP Style presents information that is clear, credible, and easy to understand.

Correct number formatting improves:

  • Clarity
  • Professionalism
  • Reader trust
  • SEO consistency
  • Mobile readability
  • Data accuracy
  • Editorial consistency

Every Total Apex contributor must master AP Style numbers because they appear constantly in news, sports, gaming, entertainment, lifestyle, finance, and guides.

2. AP Style Basics for Numbers (Beyond 1–9)

AP Style answers the question:

Is this number being used for counting, measurement, money, age, distance, ranking, or statistics?

AP Style uses numerals for most things, with a few exceptions.

3. Money Formatting in AP Style

A. Use the Dollar Sign With Numerals

Correct

  • $5
  • $25
  • $4.99
  • $1 million

Incorrect

  • five dollars (unless in casual dialogue)
  • $1,000,000 (use $1 million for readability)

B. Use Words for Casual References

Correct

  • I spent a few dollars.
  • It costs a couple hundred bucks.

Incorrect

  • I spent $ few dollars.

C. Use Commas for Large Numbers

Correct

  • $1,200
  • $25,000
  • $450,000

Incorrect

  • $1200
  • $25000

D. Use “Million,” “Billion,” “Trillion” With Numerals

Correct

  • $2 million
  • $4.5 billion
  • $750 million

Incorrect

  • $2,000,000
  • $4,500,000,000

Spell out the word — it improves readability.

E. Do NOT Hyphenate Money Ranges

Correct

  • $5 to $10
  • $3 million to $5 million

Incorrect

  • $5–$10
  • $3–$5 million

AP Style prefers “to” for money ranges.

4. Advanced Number Rules

A. Always Use Numerals for:

  • Ages
  • Dimensions
  • Percentages
  • Scores
  • Temperatures
  • Rankings
  • Times
  • Dates
  • Money
  • Millions/billions
  • Statistics
  • Exact measurements

Examples

  • The 7‑year‑old scored 12 points.
  • A 5‑foot‑6 player.
  • A 3% increase.
  • A 4–2 win.
  • A 9‑degree drop.
  • Ranked No. 3.
  • A 6‑mile run.

B. Spell Out Numbers at the Start of a Sentence

Except when the number is a year.

Correct

  • Twenty players joined the match.
  • 2024 was a record‑breaking year.

Incorrect

  • 20 players joined the match.

Rewrite the sentence if needed.

C. Use Numerals for Decimals and Fractions

Correct

  • 1.5 hours
  • 2.75 miles
  • 2/3 majority

Incorrect

  • one and a half hours (unless in dialogue)

D. Use “More Than” and “Less Than” (Not Over/Under)

AP Style prefers:

Correct

  • More than 50 players joined.
  • Less than 10% of users reported issues.

Incorrect

  • Over 50 players joined.
  • Under 10% of users reported issues.

5. Percentages in AP Style

AP Style uses the % symbol with numerals.

Correct

  • 5%
  • 12.5%
  • 0.3%

Incorrect

  • five percent
  • 12 percent

A. Use “Percentage Points” for Differences

Correct

  • The rate rose from 5% to 7%, a 2‑percentage‑point increase.

Incorrect

  • a 2% increase (this is mathematically wrong)

6. Millions, Billions, Trillions

A. Use Numerals + Words

Correct

  • 3 million players
  • $4.2 billion in revenue
  • 2 trillion views

Incorrect

  • 3,000,000 players
  • $4,200,000,000

B. Do NOT Add an “s” to Money Units

Correct

  • $5 million
  • $10 billion

Incorrect

  • $5 millions
  • $10 billions

7. Sports, Gaming, and Entertainment Number Rules

Sports

  • The team won 4–2.
  • He rushed for 120 yards.
  • A 3‑point shot.

Gaming

  • A 20% damage buff.
  • A 5‑hour campaign.
  • A 10‑level dungeon.

Entertainment

  • The film grossed $150 million.
  • A 12‑episode season.
  • A 3‑minute trailer.

Numbers appear constantly — consistency is essential.

8. Common AP Style Money & Number Mistakes (and Fixes)

A. Using spelled‑out money

❌ five dollars  

✔️ $5

B. Using commas incorrectly

❌ $100000  

✔️ $100,000

C. Using “over” instead of “more than”

❌ Over 50 players  

✔️ More than 50 players

D. Using “$5–10”

❌ $5–10  

✔️ $5 to $10

E. Adding “s” to million/billion

❌ millions of dollars (OK in casual use, not with exact figures)

✔️ $3 million

Final Takeaway for Total Apex Writers

AP Style numbers and money formatting are all about clarity, consistency, and professionalism.

Total Apex AP Style Number Essentials

  • Use numerals for most things
  • Use the % symbol
  • Use $ with numerals
  • Spell out million/billion
  • Use commas for large numbers
  • Spell out numbers at the start of sentences
  • Use “more than/less than”
  • Avoid unnecessary hyphens
  • Keep money ranges clean and readable

Mastering AP Style numbers ensures every Total Apex article — across news, gaming, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle — is polished, consistent, and newsroom‑ready.