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Subject:Mixing numbers and words in the same sentence From:John Posada <jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com> To:"List, Techwriter" <TECHWR-L -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 30 Nov 1999 10:48:39 -0800 (PST)
Hi, guys...I'm working on a help system and I've
written one of the lines of instruction as follows:
"Note: You can change the default display from 4
images to 9 or 16 images by selecting "Image Display
Options" from the menu bar."
One of the developers is wearing his tech writer hat
and is mumbling that the numbers 4 and 9 should be
written as words:
"Note: You can change the default display from four
images to nine or 16 images by selecting "Image
Display Options" from the menu bar."
I want to tell him to go back to his little cubicle
and leave me alone, but before I do, I want your
opinion.
BTW...I'm aware of the "rule" that words under 10
should be written out, but I cannot justify in my
mind, mixing convention in the same sentence and my
CMS in my other office.
=====
John Posada, Merck Research Laboratories
Sr Technical Writer, WinHelp and html
(work) john_posada -at- merck -dot- com - 732-594-0873
(pers) jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com - 732-291-7811
"The art of creating software that is usable by individuals is a communication skill. It is not a programming skill."
--Bill Atkinson, creator of MacPaint and HyperCard
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