cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/21049862

The only numbers I will ever spell are one and zero, and only when using them as a pronoun, or for emphasis, respectively.

Is there ever a reason to not to use symbols when dealing with numbers? Why would “fourteen whatevers” ever be preferable to “14 whatevers”. It’s just so much easier to read numbers as symbols, not spelled out.

(Caveat, not including multipliers, like “273 billion”).

  • JusticeForPorygon@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    2 days ago

    I spell out numbers when I want to emphasize them.

    Take George Orwell for example:

    “Nineteen Eighty-Four” has a lot more of a punch to it than just “1984.”

    • MisterFrog@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      Yeah haha, this is why it came to my mind. In this case it’s a title, so not really for the purpose of being used as a number.

      Though, I suppose I didn’t specify this