Guides
Writing Ordinal Numbers: First, 1st, and When to Use Each
How to write ordinals in words and figures — the -th rule and its irregulars, compound ordinals, dates, and when 1st beats first.
Hyphens in Numbers: When Twenty-One Needs a Dash
Compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine take a hyphen — always. Where the hyphen goes in long numbers, where it never goes, and the cases people get wrong.
From Words Back to Figures: Reading a Written Number
How to turn 'fifty thousand' or 'three hundred thousand' back into digits — the group-and-multiply method, the scale words, and the traps in large numbers.
"And" in Written Numbers: British vs American Usage
British English writes one hundred and forty-two; American English writes one hundred forty-two. Where the difference comes from, which to use, and the separate 'and' on a check.
Writing Numbers in Legal Documents and Contracts
Why contracts write amounts in both words and figures, which form controls in a dispute, and how to do it correctly.
How to Spell Numbers in Words (Complete Rules)
The rules for spelling numbers in words in English: hyphens, 'and', large numbers, and common mistakes — with examples.
Cardinal vs Ordinal Numbers: What's the Difference?
Cardinal numbers count quantity (one, two, three); ordinal numbers show position (first, second, third). Rules, examples, and how to write each.
How to Write a Check: Amount in Words (Step by Step)
Learn how to write the amount on a check in words, including dollars and cents, with clear step-by-step examples for common amounts.