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numbers: consistency

Numbers modifying the same or similar items should be treated alike within a given passage. If numerals are to be used for any, they should be used for all:

  • Of the firm’s 318 outlets currently operating in Atlantic Canada, only 6 accept more than two major credit cards.
  • Out of a population of 74,000,000, only 360,000 voted for the Socialist
    candidate.
  • the 3rd, 6th and 127th items in the series

Where many numbers occur in close succession, as in scientific, technical or financial documents, express all of them in numerals.