Numbers

General Guidelines
  • Never use Roman numerals. Exception: Basel II (also note the spelling of Basel)
  • Use Arabic numerals for the three pillars (Pillar 1, Pillar 2, Pillar 3) or spell it out—first pillar, second pillar, third pillar.  That’s the way BIS does it.
  • Avoid beginning a sentence with a numeral; rephrase.
  • In text, spell out ordinal numbers through 99. Example: seventy-fifth anniversary
  • Use numbers for 100 and above. Example: 105th session of Congress
  • Never use ordinal endings (st, nd, rd, nth, th) after the number in a date.
  • Spell out numbers one through nine. Use numerals for numbers 10 and higher.
  • When expressing units of measure—tons, feet, inches, etc.—use numerals exclusively.
Examples:
  • 3 miles
  • 6 tons
  • 24 feet
  • Write 1) and 2), not (1) and (2)

Currency
  • Write $12, not 12 dollars. 
  • Write 6 cents, but not $.06.
  • US$100 may be used in docs having a worldwide target audience. The author will generally determine this.
  • In text, use numeral and spelled-out nouns for numbers over six digits.
Example: $8 million

Percents
  • Use numbers with percent signs, e.g., 25%. 
  • Use decimals instead of fractions, e.g. 25.5%
  • Do not repeat % in a range of percentages. Ranges of percents are presented as follows: 80–90%.
  • In text, always use a zero before a percentage of less than one.
Examples: 0.24%, 0.5%.


Phone Numbers
  • Use the numbers only, without the word telephone or the abbreviation Tel., T., P., or F. preceding them. Use hyphens, not periods or parentheses, to separate the number groups.
Examples:
215-446-4100
800-677-7621
  • Exception: In lists, when both the telephone number and the fax number are given, use the following format:
Example:
Tel.: 800-677-7621
Fax: 215-446-4100
  • For audiences outside the U.S. and Canada, include the country code:
Example:
44-7973-911620    
1-215-466-4100

Note:  "1" is the country code for the U.S.  and Canada.  Countries outside of the U.S. and Canada can't dial the 800 number.  As we continue to go global this will become increasingly important—so please, always be aware of your audience.

Ranges of Numbers

Ranges are expressed with an en dash, not a hyphen or an em dash.
  • Numerical ranges are expressed as 10–20%, but between 10% and 20%.
  • Dollar ranges are expressed as $10–20.
  • Dates are expressed as July 5–6, 2008 or May–July 2008, or 2008–2009.
  • Times are expressed as 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (note periods in a.m. and the spaces around the en dash).