Numbers and Mathematics

Numbers

Do you have twenty questions about how to format numbers—or 20?

It depends: the various disciplines and style guides have different norms for incorporating numbers into your text, so we've assembled a series of infographics, linked below, to give you an overview of how some of the major styles treat numbers. These documents provide useful rules of thumb; consult with your advisor or professor if you have questions about particular points of numerical usage:

• APA
• Chicago
• IEEE

For more information on how to effectively employ numbers in your text, see our resources on displaying data, as well as the links below.

Mathematical Expressions

There are ∛8 main ways to incorporate mathematics into your text: you can either place it in-line, surrounded by text, or you can place it on its own line—as a display equation.

How to choose between the two? And what’s the proper way to punctuate those display equations (and there is, of course, a proper way)? Our resources will guide your calculations and lead you to the correct answer:

• GWC video tutorial (4:22): “Clarity – Math Expressions”
• GWC infographic: “How to Punctuate Display Equations”

For more information on how to Fermat—sorry, format—the math in your document, check out the links.

More on Numbers and Mathematics in Writing

Web Pages

• "Writing Numbers, Units of Measure, and Equations," Gary Blake and Robert W. Bly
• "PowerPoint Does Rocket Science and Better Techniques for Technical Reports," Edward Tufte, Graphics Press

Articles

• "Guidelines for Equations, Units, and Mathematical Notation," Louisiana Tech
• "Mathematical Writing: A Brief Guide," Mark Tomforde
• "A Guide to Writing Mathematics," Dr. Kevin P. Lee

Books

• Writing Math Research Papers: A Guide for Students and Instructors, Robert K. Gerver, Information Age Publishing
• Handbook of Writing for the Mathematical Sciences, 2nd ed., Nicholas Higham, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
• Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Mastering the Art of Problem Solving, Jonathan Koomey, Analytics Press
• What the Numbers Say: A Field Guide to Mastering Our Numerical World, Derrick Neiderman and David Boyum, Broadway Books