Found in 1-2% of dissertations using Chicago style. CMOS requires spelling out numbers zero through one hundred — a wider range than APA and a different threshold than MLA.
Spell out whole numbers from zero through one hundred.
Chicago Manual of Style spells out whole numbers from zero through one hundred, as well as certain round numbers: two hundred, three thousand, one million. Use numerals for 101 and above (except round numbers) and for any number that would be awkward to spell out. So it's "ninety-nine participants" but "102 participants," and "three thousand respondents" but "3,247 respondents."
This is the broadest spell-out rule of the three major styles. APA spells out zero through nine. MLA spells out numbers expressible in one or two words. Chicago goes all the way to one hundred. If you've been writing in APA and switch to Chicago, you'll need to spell out far more numbers than you're used to — "twelve," "forty-five," "ninety-eight" all get written as words.
The exceptions follow common sense. Use numerals for percentages (55%), decimals (3.5), statistics, measurements with units (7 cm), page numbers, and numbers in tables or figures. When you have a series of numbers in the same sentence and some fall above and below the threshold, you can use numerals for all of them for consistency: "we surveyed 45, 78, and 120 participants across three sites."
Chicago recommends spelling out numbers zero through one hundred in humanistic contexts. Scientific contexts may use numerals more freely, but consistency is key.
The program served 45 students over 12 weeks.
The program served forty-five students over twelve weeks.
Both 45 and 12 fall within Chicago's 0-100 spell-out range.
The study included 45 teachers from 12 schools.
The study included forty-five teachers from twelve schools.
102 is above the threshold — use the numeral. Restructure to avoid starting with a number.
One hundred and two students completed the pretest.
A total of 102 students completed the pretest.
Non-round numbers above 100 use numerals in Chicago. Only round numbers spell out.
The district employed three thousand two hundred forty-seven staff members.
The district employed 3,247 staff members.
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