Why spell numbers in sentences and why not start a sentence with a number?

Question

I write technical reports.  I write a sh*tload of numbers in that report.  I find it annoying that my boss thinks I should write out all numbers under 10 and never start a sentence with a number.  I feel this makes it harder and not easier to read which is the original intent of these stupid grammar rules.  For example:

2 x 17 results in an even number whereas 3 x 17 results in an odd number.  50% of people believe this is a trivial fact.  Of them, 7 thought it was stupid while 19 felt it was just useless information.  18,000 people were surveyed, and 5 percent thought the survey itself was useless.

Here it is with all conventional grammar rules:
The equation two multiplied by 17 results in an even number whereas three multiplied by 17 results in an odd number.  There are 50% of people who believe this is a trivial fact.  Of them, seven thought it was stupid while 19 felt it was just useless information.  There were 18,000 people surveyed, and five percent thought the survey itself was useless.

the second one is much longer, much more complicated to read quickly

? · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I was always taught that numbers below ten should be spelled out, whilst those from 11 onwards could acceptably be written numerically.  I have no idea as to why, or when, this 'rule' originated.  Having been taught that way it's ingrained in me and thus, I too, over my career would have passed on those conventions when quality assuring the outputs of others. Why?... Simply in order that the outputs from our company were interpreted as suitably professional by others, of my age group, who were the likely recipients and potentially educated in the same way. In this regard it was akin to starting a letter with 'Dear Sir/Madam'; in that if you breached the expected convention for starting a letter eyebrows would be raised and perceptions of your professional standards would be adversely affected.

However, some of our outputs were also technical reports. For relevant parts of such outputs, where lots of data would be being presented then I would have expected the clarity that comes with using numbers to be more important than the clarity that derives from using good grammar elsewhere.  I would thus agree it is 'easier on the eye', in reviewing a piece that contains lots of numbers, to stick to one format, (i.e. just the numbers). 

Since the rules of English grammar are changing and few, (if any?), people are now taught about spelling out the numbers 'one to ten' I suspect this is one rule of English Grammar that may soon wither away.

In summary:  I can't answer your question. However, I personally, (despite being an 'Old Skool' grammar obsessive!), would agree with you that in a technical report, as long as the supporting (mainly-text) sections, such as the introduction and the conclusion, demonstrate your grasp of written grammar then using numbers in sections that are 'number rich' would be sensible. 

I hope that helps show we're not all like your boss!

p.s. I'd have liked to have seen a comma between the words 'number' and 'whereas' in your  example showing 'conventional grammar rules' :D :D :D

JMAN · Answer

I used to keep a cheat-sheet near my work PC for this one but it's long lost now, alas. There are no hard and fast rules, just general conventions which many (but not all) guides will offer.

http://writing-style-guide.papercheck.com/~paperch1/index.php?title=Expressing_Numbers_MLA
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-rules-for-writing-numbers-and-numerals/

These are a couple that may suit your needs. Your boss' two observations seem to fit under both styles (sorry - that's fairly common) yet I'd apply a bit of common sense always. The exceptions to his first rule are listed in that first page. Good luck.

? · Answer

Your interpretation of "conventional" grammar rules is incorrect.

The advice on this does vary, but most stylebooks recommend using numerals for figures and addresses.
2x17
5%

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Why spell numbers in sentences and why not start a sentence with a number?

3 Answers