Numbers
Although we largely associate style with words, numbers are a key part of any style guide. This section summarises the key points for styling numbers in Australia. You can link to the related entries for more detailed advice, examples and exceptions.
Perhaps the most significant recent change has been a move towards writing numbers in numerals rather than words in body text because of growing evidence that this improves readability.
Cardinal numbers
Use numerals for all numbers except in special cases, such as common expressions
3 agenda items
2,000 years of history
one of a kind
Ordinal numbers
Use numerals where the ordinal describes a noun, but otherwise spell out the word
19th century laws
First, let me thank ...
Dates and times
Use the order day month year and prefer the 12 hour system
25 December 2020
25-12-20
9 am to 5 pm
Decimals, fractions and percentages
Always use numerals for decimals and percentages, but spell out most non-decimal fractions
a blood alcohol reading of 0.04%
two-thirds of the cake
5% of migrants from Asia
Measurements
Spell out the unit in text for a general reader, but use symbols in technical documents
15,000 kilometres on a unicycle
8 kW solar power system
Money
Use the dollar sign for the Australian dollar unless you’re comparing different dollar currencies
$20
$4,572.50
$1 million