Captioning Key - Numbers

Numbers

Experts don't always agree on rules for writing numbers or numerals. Captionists should follow a standard style manual, remembering to be consistent, or use this relatively detailed overview.

Spelling Out

• Unless otherwise specified below, spell out all numbers from one to ten, but use numerals for all numbers over ten. Examples:

  Inappropriate

  The fifty-four DVDs
  need to be shelved.

  Appropriate

  The 54 DVDs
  need to be shelved.

  Inappropriate

  He's at the thirty, the twenty,
  and scores!

  Appropriate

  He's at the 30, the 20,
  and scores!
• Spell out any number that begins a sentence as well as any related numbers. Example:
  Two hundred guests
  and eleven guides entered.
• Spell out casual, nonemphatic numbers. Example:
  He gave me
  hundreds of reasons.
• Numerals with four digits can either have a comma or not. Be consistent throughout the media production. For numerals having over five digits, a comma is necessary. Example:

  Inappropriate

  50000

  Appropriate

  50,000
• Use numerals in a listing of numbers if one or more is above ten and these occur in one caption or one sentence. Example:

  Inappropriate

  Steven has 21 books,
  11 oranges, and three cats.

  Appropriate

  Steven has 21 books,
  11 oranges, and 3 cats.
• Use numerals when referring to technical and athletic terms. Example:
  He scored 3 goals
  in today's game!
• When indicating sequence, capitalize the noun and use numerals. Exceptions are the indication of line, note, page, paragraph, size, step, or verse. Examples:
  Building 2
  page 31
  Channel 5
  size 12
  Chapter III
  step 3
  Room 438
  paragraph 2

Dates

• Use the numeral plus the lowercase "th," "st," or "nd" when a day of the month is mentioned by itself (no month is referred to). Example:

  Captioned As

  Bob went fishing
  on the 9th.

  Original Narration

  "ninth"
• When the day precedes the month, use the numeral plus the lowercase "th," "st," or "nd" if the ending is spoken. Example:

  Captioned As

  My birthday is
  the 17th of June.

  Original Narration

  "seventeenth"
• Use the numeral alone when the day follows the month. Example:

  Captioned As

  I will meet you
  on May 9.

  Original Narration

  "nine" or "ninth"
• When the month, day, and year are spoken, use the numeral alone for the day, even if an ending ("th," "st," or "nd") is spoken. Example:

  Captioned As

  Paul will marry on July 6, 1996.

  Original Narration

  "six" or "sixth"

Time

• Indicate time of day with numerals only. Examples:
  I awoke at 5:17.
  If you wish to attend,
  you must arrive by 6:25 p.m.
  We were expected to report
  no later than 1400 hours.
  I awoke at 4 o'clock.
• Always use numerals when the abbreviation "a.m." or "p.m." is present. Double zeros are not necessary to indicate minutes of the hour when a whole number is used with a.m. or p.m. Examples:
  She leaves at 3:20 p.m.
  for the airport.
  Our hours are
  from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  We're leaving
  at 6 in the morning.

Periods of Time

• A decade should be captioned as "the 1980s" (not "the 1980's") and "the '50s" (not "the 50's").
• If a decade or century is in noun form, do not use hyphens. Example:
  This vase is
  from the 17th century.
• If a period of time is used as an adjective, use a hyphen. Example:
  This 19th-century painting
  was done by Van Gogh.

Fractions

• Either spell out or use numerals for fractions, keeping this rule consistent throughout the media. If using numerals, insert a space between a whole number and its fraction. Example:

  Numeral Used

  Do you plan
  to eat 1 ½ pizzas?

  Fraction Spelled Out

  Do you plan to eat
  one and one-half pizzas?
• Do not mix numerals and spelled-out words within the same sentence. Example:

  Inappropriate

  Malika is 13
  and a half years old.

  Appropriate

  Malika is
  13 ½ years old.
• If a fraction is used with "million," "billion," "trillion," etc., spell out the fraction. Example:
  The population was
  over one-half million.
• Fractions expressed in figures should not be followed by endings, such as "sts," "rds," "nds," or "ths." Example:

  Inappropriate

  3/10ths

  Appropriate

  3/10

Percentages

• Use numerals and the percent sign to indicate all percentages except at the beginning of a sentence. Examples:

  Middle of Sentence

  Only 6% of the votes
  were counted.

  Beginning of Sentence

  Fifty-one percent of the people
  voted "yes."

Dollar Amounts

• Use the numeral plus "cents" or "¢" for amounts under one dollar. Examples:
  I need 15 cents.
  I owe you 32¢.
• Use the dollar sign plus the numeral for dollar amounts under one million. For whole-dollar amounts of one million and greater, spell out "million," "billion," etc. Examples:
  John brought only $11.
  Bob brought $6.12.
  The budget of $13,000 will be sufficient.
  Taxes will be reduced by a total of $13 million.
  He owes $13,656,000.
• Use the word "dollar" only once for a range up to ten. Example:
  I hope to find
  three or four dollars.
• Use the dollar sign and numerals when captioning a range of currency over ten dollars. Example:
  Alice expected a raise
  of $6,000 to $7,000.

Measurements

• Spell out units of measurement, such as "inches," "feet," "yards," "miles," "ounces," "pounds," and "tablespoons." However, if spoken in shortened form, symbols should be used. For example, if the original narration is "I'm five eight," it should be captioned as:
  I'm 5'8".
• For whole numbers, use numerals. For example, caption "3 cups of sugar" instead of "three cups of sugar."

Tags: captioning-key