Tag Archives: Editing

Writing numbers: numerals or words?

There are different conventions for expressing numbers in text.

Remember, the aim is to communicate clearly and make it easy for the reader to understand. It is usually easier to recognise a number when written in numerals (6, 27, 83, 214), than in words (six, twenty-seven, eighty-three, two hundred and fourteen).

I prefer to use numerals, particularly in statistical or other texts where numbers are important and frequent. In general text where numbers may not be so important or are rare, write numbers as words up to nine, then use numerals for 10 and above.

Always use numerals for measurements such as degrees, metres or kilometres, whether the measurement is written as a word (metres) or symbol (m). When a number starts a sentence, write the number in words, or rearrange the sentence.

What to include in a list of references

There are many different styles for referencing material used in a publication, and for formatting reference lists. Some organisations, such as publishers, universities or government departments, have their own preferred style. Just remember the reason for including a list of references in your work is so your readers can find, read and check the original source that you found useful.

Make sure you include all the relevant details that will help someone find the same material you did.

For websites, include the date accessed, as information can change over time as the website is updated.
For books, include the edition of the book.
For books, include the publisher and place of publication.
For journal articles, include the volume number, issue number and page numbers.

If a reference is freely available on a public website, it’s helpful to include the web address of the reference (either the main site or the full location) so readers can easily access the material.

How to recognise spam – it’s all in the editing

How do you recognise a spam or fraudulent email from a bank or telecoms provider in your inbox?

Often there are a few little things that are not quite right. The use of the corporate image may be slightly wrong such as use of the logo, corporate colours or the font for the text. There may be slightly odd wording or minor errors in the text or email footer. These are all clues to look more closely at the email.

The ability to recognise spam or fraudulent email highlights the importance of editing in setting a professional image.

People don’t notice when it’s right, but they notice when you get it wrong.