University of Pittsburgh

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NEWSPAPERS

Capitalize and italicize titles of newspapers. If the word the precedes the name, determine whether it is an official part of the title to know whether it should be capitalized and italicized. Refer to the News Media Yellow Book to determine whether the word the is an official part of a publication’s name. Note: Capitalization of conjunctions, prepositions, and articles in titles can be confusing. See CM15 8.167, CM14 7.127, Capitalization and Titles (Other) sections.)

  • “Some people miss The Pittsburgh Press,” she said, “but most are happy with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.”

NUMBERS

  1. Spell out the first nine cardinal numbers (one to nine), zero, and the first nine ordinal numbers (first to ninth). Use figures for numbers above nine.

    • Jan had four kittens in the basket.
    • Peter put 14 gerbils in the cage.
    • Read the ninth chapter and the 10th chapter.
    • She teaches grades two and three.
    • His daughter is in the 11th grade.
  2. Spell out any number that begins a sentence.

    • Fifty-four students attended.
  3. Use parentheses to enclose numbers in a list within a paragraph. (CM15 6.126; CM14 5.126)

    • Be sure to complete the following on your application: (1) student information, (2) parent information, and (3) signature block.

    4. Exceptions:

  4. Use a numeral when referring to age, even when it is less than 10.

    • The 3-year-old child went to nursery school each morning.
    • Children ages 3–5 attend nursery school in the building.
    • The woman is in her 30s. (Note: no apostrophe)
  5. When using percentages within body copy, the number is expressed in figures, even when it is less than 10, and the word percent is used. (Note: Percent is one word and is singular.)

    • Sam Rich said 8 percent of the population is eligible for the program.

    The percent symbol (%) should be used only in charts and figures or in scientific or statistical copy. (CM15 9.19; CM14 8.18)

  6. Sums of dollars and cents are written in numerical figures whether below 10 or not.
    • $5 (not $5.00), $35, 54 cents, $.54
  7. When describing numerical amounts equal to or greater than 1 million, use a numeral and the word million, billion, etc. (CM15 9.10, 9.28; CM14 8.7, 8.25)

    • The government spent $3.5 billion on the project.
    • There are 100 million people in that country.
    • There is a $5 million endowment.
    • Not:
    • five million dollar endowment
  8. Use numerals for temperature. Write out the word degree(s).

    • It was 80 degrees in Florida that day.
  9. Always use numerals when referring to measurements, times, page numbers, centuries, volumes, tables, and chapters.
  10. All numbers, even those less than 10, may be used as numerals for the sake of consistency. (CM15 9.7)

    • The University offers 4-, 6-, and 12-week sessions during the summer.
    • The school has been ranked 9th, 11th, and 14th in the last three years by U.S. News & World Report.