cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/21049862

The only numbers I will ever spell are one and zero, and only when using them as a pronoun, or for emphasis, respectively.

Is there ever a reason to not to use symbols when dealing with numbers? Why would “fourteen whatevers” ever be preferable to “14 whatevers”. It’s just so much easier to read numbers as symbols, not spelled out.

(Caveat, not including multipliers, like “273 billion”).

  • @MisterFrogOPEnglish
    8•2 months ago

    Can I ask why, though? I’m also an engineer and I just never spell it out, if I can avoid it (so far, luckily, haven’t had push back since I’m on delivery and not proposals or anything like that.)

    To me, it’s just more annoying to read it as words, and no matter what you do, mistakes can still happen, including when it’s spelled out.

    Just my 2 cents.

    • @BodePlotHoleEnglish
      17•2 months ago

      I work in MEP and our emails are always considered legal documents as they can be used as evidence if ever we are taken to court. So we always treat them very technical and try to over explain everything so clients/plan reviewers/contractors can’t misinterpret. It’s kind of an old school thing, but the head of our department is an old school guy.

    • @captainlezbianEnglish
      2•2 months ago

      I only spell out numbers as the first word of a sentence because idk how to capitalize in that situation.