1. In keeping with Canadian Press (CP) Style, numbers one through nine are written out as words. Any numbers above nine are written as figures.
Example: Priscilla completed five courses in her third semester, however she must complete 40 courses in order to graduate.
2. There can be a combination of figures and words.
Example: There are 40 students in a first-year marketing class; 32 are first-year students, three are second-year students and five students are in their third year.
3. Always use the official name for products, regardless of style.
Example: the TV show “Big Bang Theory”
4. Use commas when separating four-digit (or longer) numbers
Example: The U of L has more than 7,500 students.
5. Use words, or a combination thereof, to write large numbers
Example: The total budget was $3.8 million…
6. Spell out fractions below one.
Example: Almost one-fourth of the students….
7. Use the $ symbol when discussing money. If monetary value is less than a dollar, use cents. Be careful to avoid using both $ and dollars (AVOID – The pay is $10 dollars per hour).
Example: Students pay on average $500 per course. Student print labs charge 10 cents per page.
8. Only the following months are abbreviated:
- Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec.
- Do not abbreviate March, April, May, June and July
9. In writing time periods, write AD before the date and BC after
Example: They studied material from AD 500. Their most recent findings are from 77 BC.
Except write: 15th century AD
10. Time: Use 3 p.m. NOT 3:00 p.m. Use 7:30 a.m., Use Noon, not 12 p.m. or 12 noon
11. Anniversaries should not use superscript: 50th anniversary (despite what Microsoft Word insists)