> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://styleguide.seej.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://styleguide.seej.org/numbers.md).

# Numbers

## Beginning of Sentence

Always spell out a number if it begins a sentence

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**One hundred and three** years before his birth, Tolstoy's ancestor, Pyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy, was made a count.
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## **Centuries**

Centuries should be spelled out:

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Pushkin is the most beloved Russian poet of the **nineteenth century**.
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The University of Marburg was among Europe's most important universities in the **18th century**.
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When used as an adjective, a [**hyphen** ](/punctuation.md#hyphens)should be placed in between the ordinal number and "century." Note that if referring to two different centuries in the same adjective phrase, the first century referred to should have a dash following it:

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The essays within are organized chronologically, starting with Elena Boeck’s work on a late **seventeenth-** or early **eighteenth-century** manuscript collection of Marian texts.
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## Decades

When referring to decades, use Arabic numerals. Never use an apostrophe.

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 A severe economic contraction characterized the late **1980s** and early **1990s.**
{% endhint %}

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Tolstoy wrote *War and Peace* in the **1860's.**
{% endhint %}

## **Dates**

Use the format: Month Day, Year. 

Do not spell out the number for dates. 

Do not write out ordinal numbers

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On **March 17, 1921**, Bolshevik forces entered the city of Kronstadt.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
On **March 17th, 1921**, Bolshevik forces entered the city of Kronstadt.

On **17 March, 1921,** Bolshevik forces entered the city of Kronstadt.
{% endhint %}

## Many Numbers

Where many numbers occur within a paragraph or series of paragraphs, maintain consistency in the immediate context. If according to a rule you must use numerals for one of the numbers in a given category, use them for all in that category.

## Page Numbers

**Note:** see also the page on [**In-Text Citations**](/citations.md#in-text-citations) for more information on how to cite page numbers from sources. 

Do not spell out the number for page numbers.

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The youthful Beethoven, who named his third symphony for his hero, Napoleon, is a good example (Solomon **117).**
{% endhint %}

Use p. or pp. only if you are referring to a page number without the author's name.

{% hint style="danger" %}
For a discussion of Smith's analysis of Karamzin's literary output, see pp. 117*–*120.
{% endhint %}

When referring to a page number in a sentence, you can use "page" or "pages," but do not capitalize "page." 

{% hint style="success" %}
Example 3.5 on **page 59** is labeled as the minstrels’ music from Rimsky-Korsakov’s *The Snow Maiden.*
{% endhint %}

**However, it is preferable that you use parenthetical citations (*****without***** the use of p. or pp.) when referring to page numbers if possible.**

## Page Ranges

* For ranges starting with a page number of 1 through 100 (or multiples of 100), use all digits of the end-range number: **3–10, 71–72, 96–117, 100–104, 1100–1113**
* For ranges starting with a page number of 101 through 109, 201 through 209, and so on, use only the changed part of the end-range number, and include a zero: **101–08, 1103–04**
* For ranges starting with a page number of 110 through 199, 210 through 299, and so on, use two or more digits of the end-range number, as needed: **321–28. 498–532, 1087–89, 11564–615**
* But if three digits of a four-digit first page number change in the four-digit end-range number, use all four digits of the second number: **1496–1504, 2787–2816**

## Parts of a Book

Use Arabic numerals for chapters, parts, volumes, sections, etc. (i.e. do not spell them out):

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**Chapter 10** of *Capital* is entitled "The Working Day."

**Volume 3** of *Capital* was prepared by Friedrich Engels from notes left by Karl Marx and published in 1894.

**Part 2** consists of three main segments that lead to a furthering of the Underground Man's consciousness.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Chapter Eleven** is the climax of the novel.
{% endhint %}

When referring to parts of a book generically, or when referencing multiple parts of a book, do not capitalize:

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Refer to the **chapter** about Nabokov's butterfly drawings for more information.

He criticizes in an earlier **chapter** to Mongolians without being well-informed about Mongolian history.

The author devotes several **chapters** to a description of traditional Hutsul culture.

The **appendices** serve as an invaluable source of information for the political economist.

For an overview of the history of populism in Russia, see **chapters 2 and 3**. 
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
Confer **Chapters 4, 6, and 8** for contemporary criticism of early Russian opera.
{% endhint %}

When referring to a specific part of a book, capitalize it:

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 This idea is highlighted in **Chapter 15**, “Embracing Curiosity.”

Please see **Appendix A** for a detailed list of major Russian exports in 2002. 
{% endhint %}

## Percentages

 Do not spell out numbers for percentages, and do not use the percentage sign (%). Use "percent," and not "per cent."

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According to the Russian census of 1857, private serfs totaled **37 percent** of the total population.
{% endhint %}

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According to the Russian census of 1857, private serfs totaled **37%** of the total population.
{% endhint %}

**In statistical copy that calls for frequent use of numbers, it is acceptable to use %.**

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The proportion of students taking a language GCSE has fallen nationally from **68%** in 2004 to **48%** in 2017.
{% endhint %}

## Small vs. Large Numbers

Spell out numbers less than 101 and all large numbers that can be expressed in two words.

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The Russian empire was divided into **thirty-four** *guberniyas* (provinces) and *oblasts* (remote regions).

It is estimated that nearly **four thousand** civilians starved to death on Christmas Day, 1941.

Russia is a multi-national state with over **186** ethnic groups designated as nationalities
{% endhint %}