MisterFrogOct 20, 2024

Literally Nineteen Eighty-Four

https://lemmy.world/post/21049926

Literally Nineteen Eighty-Four - Lemmy.World

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/21049862 [https://lemmy.world/post/21049862] > The only numbers I will ever spell are one and zero, and only when using them as a pronoun, or for emphasis, respectively. > > Is there ever a reason to not to use symbols when dealing with numbers? Why would “fourteen whatevers” ever be preferable to “14 whatevers”. It’s just so much easier to read numbers as symbols, not spelled out. > > (Caveat, not including multipliers, like “273 billion”).

Show threadtiramichuOct 20, 2024

Context is everything, IMO.

In engineering work numbers should always be digits. In prose numbers should be spelled out.

Breakfast at the Thompson’s was a busy affair; twelve eggs and six rounds of toast for their three sets of boistrous twins.

Breakfast at the Thompson’s was a busy affair; 12 eggs and 6 rounds of toast for their 3 sets of boistrous twins.

To me it’s pretty clear which of those reads better and more naturally as prose; digits really ‘jump out’ on the page, and while that is great for engineering texts, it is incongruent and distracting for prose.

Show threadlengauOct 20, 2024
Somewhat relevant to your example, recipes should have numbers in digits too. (But then again recipes are basically an engineering text.)
Show threadtiramichuOct 20, 2024
Cooking is just applied chemistry, after all.
Show threadmsage
I’ve seen Breaking Bad, yes
Oct 21, 2024 at 9:05pmWeb