writing numbers of years - numbers or words?

[lornastewart]

When writing numbers of years (i.e. 12 years or twelve years) which is correct?

[sherrardk]

I don't think it matters as long as you are consistent throughout the piece of writing (ie either always use the numbers or the names of the numbers, don't mix and match).

[chelle7272]

I was taught, in formal documents use words, informal use either.

[lornastewart]

ANYBODY ELSE GOT ANY IDEAS, WE HAVE A BIG ARGUMENT GOING HERE AT WORK WHEN WRITING BUSINESS LETTERS TO CLIENTS - I SAY NUMBERS OF YEARS SHOULD BE IN WORDS AND OTHERS SAY THEY SHOULD BE IN NUMBERS.

[woofgang]

you have had two sensible answers..and please don't shout.

[beso]

Where a number can be expresed as a single word it should be spelled out.

eg

twelve, eighteen, twenty and forty but 34, 66 and 100.

[chelle7272]

No need to shout. if it is a year you are writing then it can be numbers, even in business / formal letters.

[heathfield]

Does this help?...

http://data.grammarbo...bers/writing-numbers/

[beso]

The rules are not entire rigid but I don't believe there is any support fot ehfirst two answers.

Sometimes people use "one hundred" instead of 100 but you won't see "one hundred and fifty" anywhere but on a cheque.

[lornastewart]

sorry if you thought I was shouting - the caps lock was on on my keyboard and I just kept it on without realising that it would be interpreted as shouting. sorry again, didn't mean it, and thanks for your answers, all very helpful.

[HowardKennitby]

This might help

http://www.ox.ac.uk/b...ographic_formats.html

[jno]

a fairly common practice is to spell one to nine out, but write 10 or more in figures. But this is a matter of individual taste. (Or it may be corporate taste, if your company likes to choose what to do in all its business letters.) There are no laws governing English usage, just customs.