Use numbers in a way that supports clarity, consistency, and ease of reading for students. Follow these guidelines across course content, captions, notes, and other written materials:
General Rules
Spell out single-digit numbers (one through nine) in body text, captions, titles, and notes.
Example:
“The course includes three case studies.”
Use numerals for 10 and above.
Example:
“Students must complete 12 quizzes.”
Use both forms when an additional level of clarity ensures that students understand a requirement or criteria (i.e., if they are likely to miss a requirement when skimming assignment instructions).
Example:
“Post two (2) reply posts to colleagues by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.”
Always use numerals in tables for clarity and alignment.
Exceptions
Use numerals (even for numbers below 10) in these cases:
- Percentages: “Only 5% of students selected this option.”
- Monetary amounts: “The budget is $7 per student.”
- Mixed numbers in a sentence or series, when at least one number is 10 or higher: “The survey included 3 instructors, 12 students, and 1 administrator.”
- Numbers at the start of a sentence should be spelled out, but try to rephrase the sentence to avoid this construction when possible.
- Acceptable: “Thirty-five students enrolled.”
- Better: “A total of 35 students enrolled.”
Large Numbers
Use numerals with units like million or billion.
Example:
“The company generated 2.3 million in revenue.”
Consistency
Use the same format for numbers in the same context (sentence or paragraph), even if that means using numerals for a number under 10 to match others over 10.
Example:
“Students reviewed 8 case studies, 14 reports, and 2 white papers.”