Question: When is it appropriate to spell out numbers? When is it appropriate to write numbers as figures?
Answer: It is appropriate to substitute figures for numbers if they require more than two words to spell out. This substitution may also be made if the sentence, etc. contains round numbers over a million.
Substitutions for figures as numbers are illustrated in the following example.
The population of Rapid City, South Dakota is about 52,000.
Substituting figures for numbers that are over a million is illustrated in the following example.
The theatre production drew 18 million people.
It is appropriate to spell out numbers if they contain one or two words, if they are at the beginning of a sentence, or if they are round dollar or cent amounts of only a few words.
Numbers spelled out that contain two words or less are illustrated in the following example.
That theatre can accommodate no more than eighty-two people.
Sentences that begin with numbers are illustrated in the following example.
Ninety-nine bottles of soda pop were handed out to all the weary travelers.
Numbers written as dollar amounts are illustrated in the following example.
Three thousand; twenty cents
问： 什么时候需要把数字拼写出来？什么时候用阿拉伯数字就可以了？
答： 如果要用到两个以上的单词才能把这个数字拼写出来，一般用阿拉伯数字比较好。另外，如果句子里含有大于一百万的整数，也不必拼写出来。
以下这个例子里就是用阿拉伯数字取代完整的拼写：
The population of Rapid City, South Dakota is about 52,000.
以下这个例子是在大于一百万的数字里用阿拉伯数字取代完整的拼写。
The theatre production drew 18 million people.
如果只需用一到二个单词就能把数字拼写出来，就要用完整的拼写。另外，如果数字是在句首或是只有几个单词组成的表示整数货币的，也要用完整的拼写。
以下这个例子就是在只需一到二个单词就能把数字拼写出来的时候使用完整的拼写。
That theatre can accommodate no more than eighty-two people.
Sentences that begin with numbers are illustrated in the following example.以下这个例子是在用数字开头的句子里，要使用完整的拼写。
Ninety-nine bottles of soda pop were handed out to all the weary travelers.
一下这个例子是货币单位中数字的完整拼写。
Three thousand; twenty cents
什么时候需要把数字拼写出来？什么时候用阿拉伯数字就可以了？
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