Here are examples of how to name numbers in English.

Cardinal numbers

If a number is in the range 21 to 99, and the second digit is not zero, one should write the number as two words separated by a hyphen.

In English, the hundreds are perfectly regular, except that the word hundred remains singular regardless of the number preceding it (obviously, one may on the other hand say "Hundreds of people flew in", or the like)

So are the thousands, with the number of thousands followed by the word "thousand"

In informal English, exact numbers larger than one million are seldom named, except perhaps for dramatic effect.

There is more than one way of forming intermediate numbers. One way is for when you are counting something. Another way is for when you are using numbers as labels. The second column method is used much more often in American English than British English. The third column is used in British English, but rarely in American English (although the use of the second and third columns is not necessarily directly interchangeable between the two regional variants).

Note: When writing a check (cheque), the number 100 is always written "one hundred". It is never "a hundred".

Note that in American English, it is non-standard to use the word and before tens and ones. It is instead used as a verbal delimiter when dealing with compound numbers. Thus, instead of "three hundred and seventy-three", Americans usually say (and write) "three hundred seventy-three". For details, see American and British English differences.

Here are some approximate large numbers in American English:

In British English, 1,000,000,000 is a thousand million or, rarely, a milliard. Traditionally, British English has followed the 'long scale' or European numbering system, although in recent years the 'short scale' (American) usage has become increasingly common. For example, the UK Government and BBC websites use the short-scale values exclusively, with 1,000,000,000 being termed a billion.

Often, large numbers are written with half-spaces instead of commas to separate thousands. Thus, a million is 1 000 000. In Commonwealth English, it can also be a point (.), but then, the decimal point becomes a comma.

Ordinal numbers

Here are some ordinal numbers.

Zeroth has no informal meaning, and may be considered mathematical or computer science jargon.

Ordinal numbers such as 21^st, 33^rd, etc, are formed by combining a cardinal ten with an ordinal unit.

Higher ordinals are not usually written in words. They are written using digits and letters as described below. Here are some rules that should be borne in mind. The suffixes -th, -st, -nd and -rd are usually written raised above the number itself (as superscript).

• If the ten's digit of a number is 1, then write "th" after the number. For example: 13^th, 19^th, 112^th, 9311^th.
• If the ten's digit is not equal to 1, then use the following table:

• For example: 2^nd, 7^th, 20^th, 23^rd, 52^nd, 135^th, 301^st.

These ordinal abbreviations are actually hybrid contractions of a numeral and a word. 1st is "1" + "st" from "first". Similarly, we use "nd" for "second" and "rd" for "third". Any ordinal name that doesn't end in "first", "second", or "third", ends in "th".

Dates

Years before 2000 are read as follows:

The year 2000 is read "two thousand".

Years after 2000 have no set system as of yet for expressing them; however, the second form of zeroth-decade year pronunciation is more common (that is, 2003 to be said as "two thousand and three"), and post-2010 dates are often said as normal (2010 would be "twenty ten").

Note that years are only exceedingly rarely read as ordinal numbers, as "[...] in the one thousand one hundred and ninety-seventh year of our Lord" (that is, 1197), and this is considered archaic.

Dates sometimes do not use "st", "nd", etc, after the day of the month; however, it is always pronounced with this suffix with British, European and international English, but not necessarily with general uses in North America.

• Examples:
  • (International form) I am writing this example on 2 Jan 2003 (The second of January, two thousand and three).
  • (North American form) The Twin Towers were destroyed on Sept 11, 2001 (September eleven, two thousand one).
  • (British and international form) The Twin Towers were destroyed on 11 Sept 2001 (The eleventh of September, two thousand and one).

In British, South American, European and International written dates with numbers, the day is before the month (thus, as in most European and International date systems are displayed as day/month/year, e.g. 25/01/2005). When the month is spelt out, there are several options in form between the two main forms, North American and International:

• With British, European and International (covering most of the world) forms, the day is before the month and the ordinal suffix is appended (the 1^st of October 1984); in writing, the and especially of are generally left out from the written date, peculiarly so when it stands alone, such as when writing cheques (1^st October 1984) but used to be common in older English written forms as can be seen in old English literature. The three main written forms are:
• The 25th of January 2005 (old English extended form rarely used now in written form, but still fully used for all three forms in spoken English)
• 25th January 2005
• 25 January 2005

• In North American English the day is always after the month and, usually, but not always, no ordinal suffix is appended (September 4, 2004); in writing, the is always omitted, but it must be vocalised in British English (September the fourth, two thousand and four). But it is usually not vocalised in American English (September four, two thousand four) is common in American English, but never heard in British English or European usage.

There is seldom a comma before the year, though it does appear, especially if the American form is used and the month comes first. If month names are abbreviated, they are not normally followed by a full-stop (thus, Aug (not Aug.) for August).

Compare:

• Today is 29^th January 2004. (Read: Today is the twenty-ninth of January, two thousand and four.) (British and international form)
• Today is the 29^th of January 2004. (the same)
• We signed the documents on June 10, 1969. (North American written form) (Read: ... on June the tenth, nineteen sixty-nine, or June ten nineteen sixty-nine by North Americans).
• The European Union will fully accept its new members on 01/05/2004. (Read: ... on the first of May, two thousand and four) Also, more likely to be written as 1st May 2004, or 1 May 2004) Both International English forms would be pronounced the same way in extended form.

Most countries of the world follow the same rules for date format, as the Standard British English form, that of day-month-year in written form, or 25/06/2005 in abbreviated form. North America puts the month first, and day second, although in literature that is more academic it will take on the intentional accepted form of day-month-year.

Fractions and decimals

Here are some common fractions:

Alternatively, and for greater numbers, one may say for 1/2 "one over two", for 5/8 "five over eight", and so on.

Numbers with a decimal point are usually read as a whole number, then "point", then separate digits: it is not correct to read "0.12" as "zero point twelve".

• For example:
  • 0.002 is "zero point zero zero two"
  • 3.1416 is "three point one four one six"
  • 99.3 is "ninety-nine point three" (notice the usage of "ninety")

Some English speakers will say nought for the symbol 0. Thus, 0.002 becomes "nought point nought nought two". Sometimes, oh is also used (oh point oh oh two).

Very often, if the whole number is 0, it is not actually said in speech. Thus, "point nought nought two", "point zero zero two" or "point oh oh two".

The decimal point is sometimes in writing placed at the top of the line and sometimes at the centre (0·002), and is sometimes replaced by a decimal comma, especially in international publications.

• Fractions together with an integer are read as follows:
  • 1 1/2 is "one and a half"
  • 6 1/4 is read as "six and a quarter"
  • 7 5/8 is "seven and five eighths"

A space is required between the whole number and the fraction, however, if a special fraction character is used like "½", then the space can be done without, eg.

• • 9 1/2
  • 9½

See also English-language numerals.

Whether to use digits or words

According to your friendly neighborhood copy editor and/or English teacher, the numbers zero through nine should be "written out" – meaning instead of "1" and "2", one would write "one" and "two".

Example: "I have two apples." (Correct)

Example: "I have 2 apples." (Incorrect)

After "nine", one can head straight back into the 10, 11, 12, etc., although some write out the numbers until "twelve".

Example: "I have 28 grapes." (Correct)

Example: "I have twenty-eight grapes." (Incorrect)

Another common usage is to write out any number that can be expressed as one or two words, and use figures otherwise.

Examples:

"There are six million dogs." (Correct)

"There are 6,000,000 dogs." (Incorrect)

"That is one hundred and twenty-five oranges." (Incorrect)

"That is 125 oranges." (Correct)

Numbers at the beginning of a sentence should also be written out.

The above rules are not always used. In literature, larger numbers might be spelled out.

Specialised Numbers

When dealing with sport, results are read as in the following examples:

• 1–0 – one nil
• 0–0 – nil nil
• 2–2 – two two (or two to two or two all)
• 2–1 – two one (or two to one)

Tennis sometimes uses "love" for zero, from French l'oeuf (the egg), owing to zero's shape.

When stressing nothingness, other terms are used for 0: zero, zilch, nada, null, zip. This is true especially in combination with one another: "You know nothing – zero, nada, zilch!"

See also

• English-language numerals
• List of numbers