5.11 Money

Sums of money are usually expressed in numerals, except when they refer to round or indefinite amounts or are used in a formal or legal context:

• $5.98/m²
• a fare of 75¢
• a few thousand dollars
• a twenty-dollar bill
• Payments shall be made in equal instalments of two hundred and thirty dollars per month.

Use the following forms:

• 65¢ or $0.65 or 65 cents not $.65 or .65¢
• two million dollars or $2 million or $2 000 000 or $2,000,000¹
• a two-million dollar loan
• $100 not $100. or $100.00 (when standing alone)
• five dollars or $5 not 5 dollars
• $5 worth or five dollars’ worth

The abbreviations B for billion, M for million and K for thousand are often encountered, especially in newspaper headlines. Avoid them in formal writing. Note that there is no space between the numeral and the letter:

• Foreign aid reduced by $5B in budget

When dollar amounts are used with SI symbols, the following forms are required:

• $11.50/m² not $11.50/square metre
• $3.99/kg not 3.99/kilogram or $3.99/kilo
• 98¢/L not 98¢ per litre

Place the dollar sign before the numeral in question.

For representation of dollar amounts in Canadian and other currencies, see 5.26 Other considerations.

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5.26 Other considerations

Clarity should be the primary consideration when communicating numerical information. Present it in such a way that it will be readily grasped by the reader. When writing for non-Canadians, make sure you are aware of the conventions used in the target country. Europeans, for example, who are steeped in the metric system, do not confine themselves as we usually do to multiples of 1000. They will more naturally write 3 dL (decilitres) than 300 mL or 0.3 L. Material written for the European market should conform to this practice.

Remember, too, that in Europe—and in Quebec—1,500 means "one and a half," and 1.500 means "fifteen hundred." The British "billion" is the equivalent of the American "trillion," while a British "trillion" is a million million million. In certain circumstances it may be advisable to write a thousand million or 10⁹ or giga- instead of billion, and a million million or 10¹² or tera- instead of trillion, to avoid the risk of misinterpretation. For similar reasons, the abbreviation ppb (parts per billion) should not be used. Rewrite 100 ppb as 0.1 ppm.

Dollar amounts in different currencies should be distinguished from one another by some easily understood marker. A reference to $20 will be ambiguous to a non-Canadian reader and may be taken to refer to American or some other currency. No single system is universally accepted, but the following is the one used by the Department of Finance and the International Monetary Fund:

• C$20
  • for Canadian dollars
• US$20
  • for American dollars
• A$20
  • for Australian dollars
• NZ$20
  • for New Zealand dollars

If greater clarity is required, the abbreviations CAN and AUS may be used. Note that CAD and AUD are also becoming increasingly current.

Where the reader may be in doubt as to which conventions should be followed for writing numerical expressions, the safest course is to adhere to international conventions (see 5.09 Decimal fractions, notes 1 and 2).

© Travaux publics et Services gouvernementaux Canada, 2013
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