Re: Is there research for spelling out numbers in documentation?

[Dick Gaskill <dickg -at- AG3D -dot- COM>]

Robyn,

If a set of instructions is written as a numbered list
1.
2.
3.
etc., and I am referring to one to the steps in the list, I use the
number and do not spell it out.

With an instruction, I'd suggest using both, as appropriate.  For
example, use 2MB not twoMB, and 4-bit not four-bit, even though you
might spell out the numbers two and four when using them in a sentence.

hth
-dg

> ----------
> From:         Robyn Grover, QTI,
> (414)246-7934[SMTP:RKGROVER -at- QTIWORLD -dot- COM]
> Reply To:     Robyn Grover, QTI, (414)246-7934
> Sent:         Friday, February 27, 1998 12:37 PM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      Is there research for spelling out numbers in
> documentation?
>
> Hello,
>
> Has anyone come across any research regarding the readability of
> digits (4)
> compared to spelled out numbers (four)?  Our company produces
> technical manuals
> and we were wondering if we should use digits in instructions rather
> than
> words.  (We are aware of the general rules about when to spell out
> numbers, but
> we would make an exception to the rule if it would improve
> readability.)
>
> Robyn Grover
> Technical Writer
> Quad/Tech International
> rkgrover -at- qtiworld -dot- com
>
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