Write about Money
The topic of money arises in more contexts than one could count. An untold number of writers are also specifying dollars and cents incorrectly—at least from a grammatical standpoint.
Granted, one dollar is a simple concept, but considering that $1, $1.00 and a dollar all mean the same, we see how confusion arises over the appropriate way to show the amount in a particular context. Depending on the situation, one option will be preferred, while others will be correct but not ideal, or downright wrong.
The following guidelines clarify when words and/or numerical expressions make the most sense for writing about monetary values:
· For clarity (as the AP Style for journalists specifies), round the figure and use the dollar sign plus numerals. Instead of presenting a long string of digits, name values of one million and more. Include commas.
- $1
- $1,000
- $125,000
- $1 million
- $125 million
- $1 billion
· Unless you need to show exact amounts, round to no more than two decimals.
- $123.4 million
- $1.25 billion
· Unless necessary, omit the decimal values for cents.
- YES: John spent $50.
- NO: John spent $50.00.
· For amounts less than $1, use the numeric value (if 12 or over) or spell the number along with the word cents. Although the cent symbol (¢) serves a practical purpose on signs and price tags, avoid using it within sentences.
- Adding 25 cents to the price of each item covers the cost of bags.
- I wouldn’t give five cents for that dress.
- Cookies: 50¢ Each
· If beginning a sentence with a dollar amount, spell out the value or rearrange the order.
- One thousand dollars allows us to feed one hundred families.
- With $1,000, we can feed 100 families.
· Spell out the value if the reference to money is casual, nonspecific or sporadic.
- The firm spent thousands of dollars on brochures.
- Thanks a million for your help.
- We appreciate any dollar amount donated.
- The same people who spent over fifty dollars per week on coffee claimed they had no money left for savings.
· Spell out the value in the context of a literary work, such as in a story or poem, and in most quotes.
- Earning sixteen dollars for babysitting, she felt like a millionaire.
- “We offered ten million for the land,” says CEO Doug Shelton.
· Do not include the dollar sign with the word dollar.
- RIGHT: The donor pledged $1,000.
- RIGHT: The donor pledged one thousand dollars.
- WRONG: The donor pledged $1,000 dollars.
· Let words take the place of zeroes for values of one million or over.
- RIGHT: The cost of the land was $150 million.
- RIGHT: The cost of the land was $150,000.
- WRONG: The cost of the land was $15 thousand.
- WRONG: The cost of the land was $1 thousand.
· Hyphenate when spelling out numbers between 21 and 99 (excluding, of course, those that are divisible by ten).
- You won’t regret the seventy-five dollars you’ll spend on dinner per person at Café One.
- Tux 123 rents every tuxedo for one hundred twenty-three dollars.
· Hyphenate the dollar amount when the value serves as an adjective.
- We don’t believe you’ll succeed in charging two-hundred-dollar fees for travel services that savvy consumers could arrange on their own.
· Use a singular verb along with a dollar amount that’s considered a single value.
- RIGHT: One hundred dollars is a fair price.
- RIGHT: The final bid was one hundred dollars.
- RIGHT: Our sales goal is $1 million for the first quarter.
- RIGHT: Two million dollars is the value of the real estate.
- WRONG: The amount we earned are one hundred dollars.
· Just as when expressing numbers numerically, use commas to separate hundreds, thousands, millions, etc. to spell out the same values.
- The company’s debt totaled twenty-one million, six hundred thousand dollars.
· Chose a style and present numerals and words consistently.
- RIGHT: We spent only $200 of the $500 available.
- RIGHT: I’m happy with $5 or $50.
- RIGHT: I’m happy with five dollars or fifty dollars.
- WRONG: We spent only two hundred dollars of the $500 available.
- WRONG: The brand netted $110,000 last year. If the trend continues, profits should increase by twenty thousand.
When writing for a publication, industry or purpose that dictates a certain style, you’ll save time—and money—by reviewing the accepted practices for referencing dollars and cents before you begin your manuscript.
If you have additional questions about naming monetary values, you’re most welcome to contact Write Lady for guidance to write about money correctly.
My best to you,
Sallie W. Boyles, a.k.a. Write Lady