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thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine dollars, and four cents For writing
dates, see section 4.8.
4.9.3 PERCENTAGES AS NUMBERS
Percentages are best written as numbers, except, as noted in section 4.9.4, when
they begin a sentence.
■ Up to 90 percent of school kids say they would rather choose their
own teachers.
4.9.4 NUMBERS THAT START SENTENCES
Numbers at the beginning of sentences should always be written as words, even
if they are above nine.
If it looks too awkward, then rewrite the sentence so the number doesn’t start
things off.
■ Ninety minutes into the movie the baby started crying.
■ Ten days ago, I had the best key lime pie of my life.
■ Bad: Nine thousand, four hundred seven dollars would pay off my
mortgage.
■ Good: My mortgage would be paid off with $9,407.
4.9.5 PLACE PUNCTUATION IN NUMBERS
There are two styles of writing numbers that are four digits long to the left of the
decimal: with or without a comma after the “thousands” place. Either is fine, but
be consistent.
■ 2342 = 2,342
■ 1132 = 1,132
Most of the English-speaking world uses commas to set off the places in
