How to write numbers in words?

1. Cardinal numbers

We use cardinal numbers to indicate quantity. Below is a list of numbers in numerals and words. Click the speaker icon to listen to the pronunciation of each number.

2. What are ordinal numbers and how to use them?

We use ordinal numbers to indicate rank, order, or position.
Examples:

3. Fractions and decimal numbers

How to read fractional numbers?

A fractional number or a fraction is a way to show parts of a whole thing. Imagine you have a pizza. If you cut it into pieces and take just a few of those pieces, you’re taking a fraction of the pizza. The number at the top (numerator) says how many pieces you have, and the bottom number (denominator) tells you how many pieces the whole pizza was cut into. So, if you have 2 pieces out of 8, you write it as 2/8. Below is a list of some fractional numbers and how to read them.

1. 1/2 - one over two (commonly known as half)
2. 1/3 - one over three (one-third)
3. 2/3 - two over three (two-thirds)
4. 1/4 - one over four (a quarter or one-fourth)
5. 3/4 - three out of four (three-quarters or three-fourths)
6. 1/5 - one out of five (one-fifth)
7. 2/5 - two out of five (two-fifths)
8. 1/6 - one over six (one-sixth)
9. 5/6 - five over six (five-sixths)
10. 1/7 - one out of seven (one-seventh)
11. 1/8 - one over eight (one-eighth)
12. 1/10 - one out of ten (one-tenth)
13. 7/10 - seven out of ten (seven-tenths)
14. 1/20 - one over twenty (twentieth)
15. 47/100 - forty-seven out of a hundred (forty-seven hundredths)
16. 1/100 - one over a hundred (a hundredth)
17. 1/1,000 - one over a thousand (a thousandth)

How to read decimal numbers?

Decimal numbers consist of a whole number part to the left of a small dot called the decimal point, and a decimal part at the right of the decimal point showing the portions of the whole. The whole number tells us about complete items or units. To the right of the decimal point is the decimal part, showing smaller portions of the whole. For example, in the number 2.3, “2” is the whole number and “.3” tells us about a part of the whole, like a piece of cake. To help you read decimal numbers in English, follow the simple guidelines below.

Whole numbers: before the decimal point, read the number as you would do for any whole number.

Example: In 312.45, you’d read “312” as “three hundred twelve.’

Decimal point: always read the decimal point as “point.”

Example: 7.8 is “seven point eight.”

Numbers after the decimal point: read each number individually after the decimal point, not as a whole number.

Example: 12.34 is read as “twelve point three four“ not “twelve point thirty-four.”

Zeroes: zeroes after the decimal point can be read as “zero” or “oh.”

Example: 12.05 can be read as “twelve point zero five” or “twelve point oh five.”

In certain contexts, like money, you might read numbers differently. For instance, $3.50 might be read as “three dollars and fifty cents” instead of “three point five zero.”