Numbers in Words

The way of expressing numerical value using alphabets is known as numbers in words. For example, the number 345 is written as Three Hundred Forty-Five. While writing small numbers in words, we write them in a single word. As the number gets bigger, the number of words also changes. Take the number 15 and 287. We write 15 as ‘Fifteen’ and 287 as  ‘Two Hundred Eighty-Seven’.

The system of writing numbers in words has been around for centuries. Writing numbers in words can be traced back to ancient times when the Babylonians, Sumerians, and Egyptians found ways to represent them in written form. Over time the need for communication grew and along with it the need for numbers in words also increased. For example, the number 15 is written as "Fifteen" and 287 as "Two Hundred Eighty-Seven." 

Before you write numbers in words, make sure you follow the rules given below:-

• Don’t use ‘and’ while writing numbers in words in American English. Only British English uses ‘and’. For example, in American English, 123 is written as ‘One Hundred Twenty-Three’.

• Make use of hyphens while writing the word form of numbers, excluding the multiples of 10 like 20, 30, 40, 50, and so on. For example, take the number 56. The number is written as ‘Fifty-Six’. Here, the hyphen connects the two parts, which makes it easy to read the number written.

• For writing bigger numbers in words, we should break the number based on its place value and the names of each part will be combined to complete the word form of the number. Let’s take the example of number 546.

• Here, we place 5 in the hundreds place, 4 in the tens place, and 6 in the ones place.
  
  → 546 – 500, 40, 6
  
  Therefore, 546 will be written as ‘Five Hundred Forty-Six’

Numbers play a fundamental role in our daily lives, and they can be represented in different ways. Each type of number plays different role. Here, in this section, we will learn the different types of numbers and how to write them in words. We can classify them as:-

• Natural Numbers in Words

• Whole Numbers in Words

• Integers in Words

• Fractions in Words

Natural Numbers in Words - Numbers we use in daily life, like for counting things, are known as natural numbers. The natural numbers range from 1 to infinity. The natural numbers are the most commonly used. Learning to write natural numbers in words will help you in formal writing.

Let’s see how these numbers are written:

• 6 → Six

• 24 → Twenty-Four

• 56 - Fifty-Six

Whole Numbers in Words - These are natural numbers which include ‘0’. The whole numbers start from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,…. and so on. The whole numbers are significant in mathematical concepts.

Take a look at how whole numbers are expressed in word form:-

• 0 →  zero

• 200 →  Two Hundred

• 350 →  Three Hundred Fifty

Integers in Word - Integers are a set of numbers that contains both negative, whole and positive numbers. We write positive integers as whole numbers and for negative integers, we write ‘negative’ before the number. For example, take the numbers 45 and -45. We write them as
Forty-Five and Negative Forty-Five.

Fractions in Word - Fraction is the way of expressing a whole number as a part. A fraction consists of a numerator and a denominator. While writing fractions in words, we express the numerator and the denominator in words. Let’s take a look at the example of ½ and ¾ 

• ½  is written as ‘one-half’

• ¾ is written as ‘three-fourth’

Learning to write numbers in words is an important skill that every child should know. It helps children to have a better understanding of the number systems, improves their ability to read and write, and also to communicate. Understanding how numbers are written, will help us read the amount written in checks, and the number written in legal documents as well. Therefore, we can say that learning to write numbers in words will be a foundational skill for all children.

Here, we will discuss how to write the different types of numbers in words. Based on the characteristics of numbers, there are different types of numbers.
Here, we will learn how to write these different types of numbers in words.

• Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers in words

• Even and Odd Numbers in words

• Consecutive Numbers in words

• Prime Numbers in words

• Composite Numbers in Words

Cardinal numbers - It express the quantity or ‘how much’. For example, the cardinal numbers are 1, 2, 3, and so on. They are written as ‘one’, ‘two’, ‘three’

Ordinal numbers - It indicate the position in a sequence. For example, ordinal numbers are written as 1st, 2nd, 3rd…
The word form of Ordinal numbers will be like first, second, third… 

The numbers which are completely divisible by 2 are called even. For example, the even numbers can be 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, …

These numbers are written as ‘two’, ‘four’, ‘six’, ‘eight’, ‘ten’.

The numbers which are not divisible by 2 are called odd numbers. The odd numbers go in the order 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, …

These numbers are written as ‘one’, ‘three’, ‘seven’, ‘nine’, ‘eleven’, …

These are the numbers that get followed one after another without any space. The consecutive numbers go like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6…

These numbers are written as ‘one’, ‘two’, ‘three’, ‘four’, ‘five’, ‘six’, …

Prime numbers that can only be divided by 1 and the number itself. The prime number starts from 2. A few examples of prime numbers are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13 …

These numbers are written as ‘two’, ‘three’, ‘five’, ‘seven’, ‘eleven’, ‘thirteen’

The numbers which get divided by numbers other than 1 and the number itself are composite. For example, the numbers 4, 8, 32, 68, 88 and so on are composite.

The numbers are written as ‘four’, ‘eight’, ‘thirty-two’, ‘sixty-eight’, ‘eighty-eight’ and so on.

Learning to write numbers in words is a fundamental skill. To master this skill, follow the tips and tricks given below:

• While writing compound numbers in words, make use of hyphens. For example, if you are writing number 68 in words, you should write it as ‘Sixty-Eight’. The numbers from 21-99 are written in words using hyphens.

• If you are writing the numbers in British English, use ‘and’. For example, take the number 105. We write 105 as ‘One Hundred and Five’. For American English, we don’t use ‘and’ We write 105 as ‘One Hundred Five’.

• For large numbers like 456, 238 and so on, break the number into its place value. For example, take the number 324. We place 3 in the hundreds place, 2 in the tens place and 4 in the ones place. Number 324 is written as ‘Three Hundred Twenty-Four’.
  
   
• Learning multiplication tables is essential for building strong math skills. 
  
   
• Learning fractions helps in understanding parts of a whole and daily lifecalculations.

There are various applications for numbers in words. Let’s check some examples where numbers in words are used.

• In checks, we write the amount of money in both words and number form. For example, $356 is written as Three Hundred Fifty-Six Dollars.

• In legal documents, the numbers are written in words to avoid confusion about the amounts or terms.

• Receipts or the invoices might include the total amount due in words.

• You might be asked to write the numbers in word in certain Government documents to verify the information given.