Publish Numbers Contract For Free

A simple rule for using numbers in writing is that small numbers ranging from one to ten (or one to nine, depending on the style guide) should generally be spelled out. Larger numbers (i.e., above ten) are written as numerals.

Use numerals for numbers 10 and greater, and spell out numbers one through nine. With either numerals or spelled out numbers, do not include ?. 00? for dollar amounts in running text.

Contracts presented in electronic form, such as on a web page, may not have any clear concept of separate pages, and so page numbers would be pointless on such contracts. Page numbers on contracts printed out are common, but I do not know of any legal requirement for such numbers.

If the number is approximate (e.g. 'around six hundred years ago') it should be spelled out. Very large numbers should generally be expressed without using rows of zeros where possible (e.g. $3.5 million instead of $3,500,000). In contracts, the use of both words and numbers is common in order to increase certainty.

For whatever reason, when attorneys draft contracts they don't just write the numerals like regular people. Instead, attorneys typically write out numbers in words as well as add the numerals in parentheses. For example, instead of writing ?45 days?, an attorney would write ?forty-five (45) days?.

It is a common practice to number provisions in some way, in particular to make reference from one to another easier. But not all contracts include such internal references.

The general rule is that all numbers ten and below should be spelled out and numbers 11 and above should be put in numerals. However, there are certain exceptions to this: If numbers recur through the text or are being used for calculations, then numerals should be used.