Do you spell out numbers in APA?
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Olivia Clark
Studied at Yale University, Lives in New Haven, CT
Hello, I'm an expert in writing and formatting styles, and I'm here to help you with your question about the APA style and how it treats numbers. The American Psychological Association (APA) has specific guidelines for writing numbers in academic papers, and these guidelines can sometimes be a bit tricky to navigate. Let's delve into the details.
APA Style and Numbers: General Rules
Firstly, it's important to understand that APA style is widely used in the social sciences, and it emphasizes clarity and consistency. When it comes to numbers, the APA Publication Manual (7th edition) provides clear instructions:
1. Numbers Below 10: Spell out single-digit numbers, unless they are part of a larger numerical expression or used to represent years, ages, percentages, or units of measurement. For example, use "three" but "5 years" or "3%."
2. Numbers 10 and Above: Use numerals for all numbers 10 and above. So, you would write "12" but "fifteen" if it's spelled out.
3. Fractions and Decimals: Spell out fractions when they begin a sentence, but use numerals elsewhere. Decimals are always written in numeral form.
4. Ranges: When expressing a range, use an en dash (–) for numbers that are spelled out and a hyphen (-) for numerals. For example, "six–eight" or "7-10."
5. Approximations: If you're approximating a number, spell it out and use words like "about," "approximately," or "around."
6. Large Numbers: For very large numbers, it's often more readable to use words for the base number and numerals for the remainder. For instance, "three million 450,000."
Comparing APA to MLA Style
Now, let's compare this to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, which you've mentioned. The MLA Handbook (9th edition) suggests:
1. Spelling Out Numbers: Spell out numbers from zero to nine, inclusive.
2. Numerals for Larger Numbers: Use numerals for numbers above nine, unless they begin a sentence.
3. Large Numbers: For large numbers, MLA style tends to use numerals more frequently than APA style.
Examples of APA Style Number Usage
- "Three participants were in the control group."
- "She scored 9 out of 10 on the test."
- "There were 15 responses to the survey."
- "In 2021, the population was approximately 327 million."
- "The range of ages was 18–25 years old."
- "The study included 12–20 participants in each group."
Special Considerations
- Hyphenation in Numbers: APA style uses no hyphen in compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine (e.g., twenty-one, ninety-nine). However, compound numbers above one hundred are hyphenated (e.g., one hundred twenty-one).
- Units of Measurement: Always use numerals for units of measurement (e.g., 5 kg, 10 m).
Conclusion
In summary, APA style has a nuanced approach to numbers, balancing readability with precision. It's always best to consult the latest APA Publication Manual for the most current guidelines, as styles can evolve over time. Remember, the key to using numbers effectively in APA style is consistency and adherence to the guidelines to ensure your academic writing is clear and professional.
APA Style and Numbers: General Rules
Firstly, it's important to understand that APA style is widely used in the social sciences, and it emphasizes clarity and consistency. When it comes to numbers, the APA Publication Manual (7th edition) provides clear instructions:
1. Numbers Below 10: Spell out single-digit numbers, unless they are part of a larger numerical expression or used to represent years, ages, percentages, or units of measurement. For example, use "three" but "5 years" or "3%."
2. Numbers 10 and Above: Use numerals for all numbers 10 and above. So, you would write "12" but "fifteen" if it's spelled out.
3. Fractions and Decimals: Spell out fractions when they begin a sentence, but use numerals elsewhere. Decimals are always written in numeral form.
4. Ranges: When expressing a range, use an en dash (–) for numbers that are spelled out and a hyphen (-) for numerals. For example, "six–eight" or "7-10."
5. Approximations: If you're approximating a number, spell it out and use words like "about," "approximately," or "around."
6. Large Numbers: For very large numbers, it's often more readable to use words for the base number and numerals for the remainder. For instance, "three million 450,000."
Comparing APA to MLA Style
Now, let's compare this to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, which you've mentioned. The MLA Handbook (9th edition) suggests:
1. Spelling Out Numbers: Spell out numbers from zero to nine, inclusive.
2. Numerals for Larger Numbers: Use numerals for numbers above nine, unless they begin a sentence.
3. Large Numbers: For large numbers, MLA style tends to use numerals more frequently than APA style.
Examples of APA Style Number Usage
- "Three participants were in the control group."
- "She scored 9 out of 10 on the test."
- "There were 15 responses to the survey."
- "In 2021, the population was approximately 327 million."
- "The range of ages was 18–25 years old."
- "The study included 12–20 participants in each group."
Special Considerations
- Hyphenation in Numbers: APA style uses no hyphen in compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine (e.g., twenty-one, ninety-nine). However, compound numbers above one hundred are hyphenated (e.g., one hundred twenty-one).
- Units of Measurement: Always use numerals for units of measurement (e.g., 5 kg, 10 m).
Conclusion
In summary, APA style has a nuanced approach to numbers, balancing readability with precision. It's always best to consult the latest APA Publication Manual for the most current guidelines, as styles can evolve over time. Remember, the key to using numbers effectively in APA style is consistency and adherence to the guidelines to ensure your academic writing is clear and professional.
2024-05-12 07:06:48
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Studied at the University of São Paulo, Lives in São Paulo, Brazil.
MLA Style spells out numbers that can be written in one or two words (three, fifteen, seventy-six, one thousand, twelve billion) and to use numerals for other numbers (2?; 584; 1,001; 25,000,000). APA Style, on the other hand, generally uses words for numbers below 10 and numerals for numbers 10 and above.Jun 26, 2014
2023-06-09 09:02:25
Julian Cooper
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
MLA Style spells out numbers that can be written in one or two words (three, fifteen, seventy-six, one thousand, twelve billion) and to use numerals for other numbers (2?; 584; 1,001; 25,000,000). APA Style, on the other hand, generally uses words for numbers below 10 and numerals for numbers 10 and above.Jun 26, 2014
