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Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?
2

Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

(OP)
What is the correct way to express numbers in a technical report?

Here are a couple of examples for discussion purposes:

Two (2) samples should be obtained and 3 tests should be conducted.

Fifty (50) samples should be obtained and 75 tests should be conducted.

What are the rules?  Strunk and White addresses this from a dialogue point of view, but they make no mentioned of the rules as they relate to technical papers or reports.

Thanks for your help!

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

From a safety point of view ... to avoid any chance of mis-communication ... I would use the Alpha (numeric) format all the time.

& all the best.

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

I agree, in that I use alpha-numeric for quantities, but not for values.

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

If I remember correctly, in formal writing, values ten (10) and less should be spelled out and optionally enclosed in parenthesis.  Values 11 and higher should be expressed numerically.  Of course, my memory may be suspect, and that convention may no longer be in vogue.

Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

Check here...

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslnumber.html

For formal papers, I have also seen that any number less than eleven must be written long-hand.



Remember...
       "If you don't use your head,
                       your going to have to use your feet."

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

It depends also on whether you're talking about a countable quantity or a measurement where significant figures come into play.  "Two trucks" is fine, but "two liters" is ambiguous between "2 L" and "2.0 L".

I've never understood the point of alpha (numeral).  Pick one.  If you're not comfortable with the clarity of the spelled-out number, then don't use it at all; use the numeral.  If you really can't stand starting a sentence with it, rephrase.

Hg

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

I agree with HgTX.  How did that convention start anyway?  Personlly I find it cumbersome to proof and irritating to read.  I'm waiting for the day when I see a report with "we noted 14 (fourteen) locations of spalled terra cotta..."


RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

This alpha(numeric) format probably evolved when the written word was full of fancy script lines and no two (2) people wrote the same (identical) way. It is common in old banking and legal notes to avoid confusion.

Check at your checkbook - alpha line and a box for the numerals.....

The Department of Redundacy Department saves the day one (1) more time

Keep the wheels on the ground
Bob

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

I think the alpha (numeric) convention makes sense if you are handwriting a report or similar, but it seems pointless to me in a printed document (assuming you are using a standard font, and not Old English Script or similar).

Fowler's suggests that numerals imply precision, and are preferred in statistical / factual contexts, while words may be preferable in descriptive contexts. (I have lived in the same house for twelve years / The survey covers a period of 12 years).

MadMango,

I think your signature may need to be updated:

"I think there is a world market for maybe five (5) computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, Nineteen forty-three (1943).

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

From the Pocket Style Book by The Economist:

"They decided, by nine votes to two, to put the matter to the general assembly which voted, 27 to 19, to insist that the ratio of vodka to tomato juice in a bloody mary should be at least one to three, though the odds of this being so in most bars were put at no better than 11 to 4."

It also says that numerals should be used for all numbers that include a decimal point or a fraction (eg, 4.25, 4¼); in reference to pages; in percentages (eg, 4%); and in sets of numerals, eg, Deaths from this cause in the past three years were 14, 9 and 6.
Otherwise use numerals from 11 upwards, and use words for simple numerals from one to ten.

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

If you're talking ratios, wouldn't it be more acceptable to see/use 1:3?

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

but "two liters" is ambiguous between "2 L" and "2.0 L".

Huhh???

We could spell e as Two point seven one eight two eight one eight ...  which makes about as much sense as spelling any number in a written or printed document.  OK I guess we need spelled numbers to communicate them verbally but just because one spells it and gives the numerical figure in parenthesis, is no guarantee that a mistake is not included.

A number is a number.  Why can't we just show them as numerals in documents and dispense with all the nonsense rules of when to spell or not.  Life is way too complicated without adding absolutely unnecessary complication.

The solution is to write the numeral(s) legibly or use appropriately large font.  Besides, redundancy is already redundant

Now I’ve gone and done it!  Somebody is going to point out how there is a perfectly  valid reason why all this diatribe is not really pointless and then I’ll feel foolish as usual.

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

Fourteen (14) [XIV] Engineers sat around a PC wondering should I write one (2) or [III].  Perhaps we should add a third way just to be sure that one of the first two (2) [II] wasn't a mistake.  Then we can go for the best two (2) [II] out of three (3) [III].

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

While I personally dislike the alpha (numeric) format, it seems that many people like the redundancy to avoid the possibility of misinterpretation. In the interests of precision, and in keeping with the digital age, I have decided henceforth that I shall adopt the convention of repeating all numbers in my report writing using decimal numeric (binary numeric) representations. This should satisfy all of the pedants - surely the following is not capable of misinterpretation?

14 (1110) Engineers sat around a PC wondering "Should I write 1 (1) as one, one (1), or 1 (1)?"  Perhaps we should add a 3rd (11th) way just to be sure that one of the 1st (1st) 2 (10) wasn't a mistake.  Then we can go for the best 2 (10) out of 3 (11).

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

Here's another reason why the alpha (mumeric) format makes sence, even in today's society and with the use of computerized fonts (and sometimes BECAUSE of the font), it can be easy to confuse "1" for "l", etc.  

When a digit is used in a large number, there is no confusion.  But when a digit is used alone, confusion is possible.

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

That is one (1) reason what is the other reason?

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

My bank does this.
Deposit forms require deposit amounts as numbers.
Withdrawal forms eg cheques require full value expressed in words as well as numbers.
What is this telling us?

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

It is telling us they are laughing all the way to the bank.

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

Pieces of eight (8)

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

I agree with Sprintcar- let the lawyers and banks use the stuffy,CYA alpha-(numeric) designation. We engineers should express either as alpha or numeric, not both, according to our personal preferences.

RE: Two (2) or 2 in technical writing?

in some context, the use of alpha (numeric) could be irritating...
e.g.
dear IT department,
we requested resolution of the reference bug in three (3) different occasions...
(as if the recipient needed repetition of the number in a complaint)

the only rule i was aware of is to avoid starting a sentence with a number:
5 units were tested and confirmed to be ok --> not like this
Five units were tested and confirmed to be ok

If the number is big, e.g. 325, prefer:
"The 325 units tested were confirmed to be ok"
instead of
"Three hundred and twenty five...

gracias.


saludos.
a.

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