how to write 2 million in an essay

AP Style Millions, Billions, Trillions

Home » AP Style » AP Style Millions, Billions, Trillions

Use figures with million, billion, or trillion in all except casual uses. For example,

• I’d like to make a billion dollars.
• The nation has 1 million citizens.
• I need $8 billion.
• The government ran a deficit of more than $1 trillion.

Do not go beyond two decimal places. For example,

• 7.51 million people
• $256 billion
• 7,549,899 people
• $2,234,239,000

Decimals are preferred where practical. For example,

• 1.5 million
• 1 1/2 million

Do not mix millions and billion in the same figure. For example,

• 2.5 billion
• 2 billion 500 million

Do not drop the word million or billion into the first figure of a range. For example,

• He is worth $4 million to $5 million.
• He is worth $4 to $5 million.

Unless that is, of course, you actually mean $4.

Note that a hyphen is not used to join the figures and the word “million” or “billion,” even in this type of phrase,

• The president submitted a $300 billion budget.

In headlines, abbreviate only millions, billions. For example,

• $5M lawsuit, $17.4B deficit

See also AP Style Numbers .

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Academic writing
• Writing numbers: words and numerals

APA Style Guidelines for Numbers | Words or Numerals?

Published on August 7, 2015 by Sarah Vinz . Revised on July 23, 2023.

Numbers can be written either as words (e.g., one hundred) or numerals (e.g., 100). In this article we follow the guidelines of APA Style , one of the most common style guides used in academic writing .

In general, words should be used for numbers from zero through nine, and numerals should be used from 10 onwards. This is true for both cardinal numbers (e.g., two, 11) and ordinal numbers (e.g., second, 11 th ). However, there are some important exceptions to this rule.

Note that other style guides, such as Chicago Style,  address numbers differently (for example, in Chicago, you use words for numbers up to 100). Regardless of what style guide you follow, the most important thing is to be consistent in how you treat numbers throughout your document.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Writing percentages, reporting statistical results that include numbers, writing numbers that are accompanied by measurements, writing long numbers, consistency may not be obvious, other interesting articles.

Use numerals for numbers from zero to nine that are followed by a precise unit of measurement.

The samples measured 7 cm in diameter. (“cm” is a unit of measurement)

But: These three samples were subjected to further testing.

Use words for any number that is used to start a sentence, with the exception of years.

Seventy-two thousand ink cartridges are sold every day.

Nineteenth-century novels often feature complicated plot lines.

But: 2008 saw record olive crops throughout the Mediterranean.

Use words for common fractions and set expressions.

According to the survey, two thirds of the employees are dissatisfied.

Understanding the Five Pillars of Islam is a critical first step.

The Fourth of July is traditionally marked by a firework display.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

With percentages, the standard is to use numerals and “%” (not “percent”).

According to the report, 45% of the workforce is employed in the service sector. Only 6% currently work in agriculture.

The main exception is if you are using a percentage to begin a sentence. In this case, use words to express the entire percentage.

Thirteen percent of the patients reported that their symptoms improved after taking the experimental drug.

If your paper includes quantitative research, you probably have data to report. Statistics, mathematical functions, ratios, and percentages are all written using numerals. This is true regardless of whether they are included within a table or as part of the actual text. Keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Report most statistics to two decimal places (such as M = 5.44).
• Report statistics that could never exceed 1.0 to three decimal places (such as p < .001).
• If a value has the potential to exceed 1.0, use the leading zero. If a value can never exceed 1.0, do not use the leading zero.
• Italicize values that are not Greek letters (such as M , SD , p , and F ).
• Include spaces before and after =, >, and <.

The average IQ of the participants was relatively high ( M = 137.33, SD = 4.54).

The results of the second test were statistically significant, t (12) = 4.11, p < .05.

There are further detailed guidelines about reporting statistics in APA .

If a number comes immediately before a unit of measurement, use numerals.

Each patient received  5 mg  of the experimental drug.

The tallest participant was 2.03 m .

Also use numerals for precise ages, times, dates, scores, points on a scale, and amounts of money.

The final score of Ghana 2, Brazil 1 did not represent a decisive victory.

Children under 8 years receive a $50 discount.

But: Most girls start reading when they are about five years old. (“about” makes the number imprecise)

Longer numbers follow specific rules:

• Use a period to indicate a decimal point.
• Starting with 1,000, use commas to separate every three digits.

The region has an average of 43.75 doctors for every 10,000 people.

Some predict that the number of users will reach 2 billion by 2020.

One of the main reasons why writing numbers is complicated is that consistently applying the rules may lead to a text that actually seems very in consistent. Consider the following paragraphs:

At about the age of seven , the girl’s height was 1.47 m. This placed her in the fifth percentile, although her weight placed her in the top 7% of her class. By the time she was 9 years old, she was taller than half of the boys in her year. Five years later, she was still ranked 15 th .

Thirteen thousand viewers watched the performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night from the park, while another 2,000 watched from the surrounding buildings and 1.2 million watched it on television. As one  out of every 11 residents saw at least part of the play, this one event can definitely be considered a success.

These texts may look awkward because so many different number formats have been used, but don’t be deceived – the above guidelines have all been followed.

If you are not required to strictly follow a particular style (such as APA format ), you may have some flexibility to modify the guidelines presented in this article. Just be sure to apply any modifications you make throughout your entire document.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Begging the question fallacy
• Hasty generalization fallacy
• Equivocation fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy
• Deep learning
• Generative AI
• Machine learning
• Reinforcement learning
• Supervised vs. unsupervised learning

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Vinz, S. (2023, July 23). APA Style Guidelines for Numbers | Words or Numerals?. Scribbr. Retrieved August 12, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-writing/numbers/

Is this article helpful?

Sarah's academic background includes a Master of Arts in English, a Master of International Affairs degree, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She loves the challenge of finding the perfect formulation or wording and derives much satisfaction from helping students take their academic writing up a notch.

Other students also liked

Reporting statistics in apa style | guidelines & examples, using abbreviations and acronyms, language mistakes in quotes, what is your plagiarism score.

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

• A Research Guide
• Writing Guide
• Grammar and Punctuation

A Guide to Writing Out Numbers in Words in English

Putting Numbers in Words

• Always spell out any number that occurs at the begging of a sentence. For example, Seventeen high school students won the community service award. Nineteen Eighty-three was the year he was born.
• Hyphenate every compound number from twenty-one to ninety-nine.
• Hyphenate all factions that are written out.
• If there are more than four digits, always use commas.
• There is no need to use a decimal or a dollar sign when writing our sums that are less than one dollar.
• Do not include the word ‘dollar’ is there is a dollar sign.
• To simplify things, use noon and midnight instead of 12:00 AM or 12:00 PM
• It is acceptable to use numerals for the time of day.
• Mixed fractions are always written out numerically unless they are at the start of a sentence. For example, We anticipate a 4 1/5 percent increase in cost.
• Always use the simplest way to express large numbers.
• When using decimals, add a zero in front of the decimal point to make prevent confusion.
• Whenever you are writing out a number that has three or more digits, there is no need to write the word and . However, you should use the word and to indicate or express decimal points.
• When writing out numbers over 999, you do not need to use a comma.
• This is how you would typically use numerals to indicate or express a date.
• When decades are spelled out, they are not capitalized.
• Whenever you express decades using numerals, it is easier to add an apostrophe at the start of the number and not before the s.

Writing Numbers in Different Citation Styles

• Using APA Style for Writing Out Numbers: https://academiccoachingandwriting.org/academic-writing/academic-writing-blog/ii-using-apa-style-in-academic-writing-words-or-numerals
• Using MLA Style for Writing Out Numbers: https://www.mlanet.org/page/mla-style-manual-numbers-and-dates
• Using AP Style for Writing Out Numbers: https://writingexplained.org/ap-style/ap-style-numbers
• Using Chicago Style for Writing Out Numbers: https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Numbers.html

When to Spell out Numbers

• between zero and nine. (Example, one – two – three – four – five – six – seven – eight – nine)
• come after one million. (Example, two million – two million forty-five thousand)
• found at the start of a sentence.  (Example, Nineteen forty-seven was the year he was born)

How to Spell Numbers Properly

• twenty-three
• twenty-four
• twenty-five
• twenty-seven
• twenty-eight
• twenty-nine
• thirty-three
• thirty-four
• thirty-five
• thirty-seven
• thirty-eight
• thirty-nine
• forty-three
• forty-seven
• forty-eight
• fifty-three
• fifty-seven
• fifty-eight
• sixty-three
• sixty-seven
• sixty-eight
• seventy-one
• seventy-two
• seventy-three
• seventy-four
• seventy-five
• seventy-six
• seventy-seven
• seventy-eight
• seventy-nine
• eighty-three
• eighty-four
• eighty-five
• eighty-seven
• eighty-eight
• eighty-nine
• ninety-three
• ninety-four
• ninety-five
• ninety-seven
• ninety-eight
• ninety-nine
• one hundred
• one hundred one
• one hundred two
• one hundred three
• one hundred four
• one hundred five

Writing Numbers Numerically

Ways of spelling out the date.

• How to Write the Year,
• How to Write the Month and Day,
• How to Write Dates with Days of the Week,
• How to Write Centuries,
• How to Write Decades,
• Writing Dates as Numerals
• August 1, 1999
• August 30, 1999
• January 18, 2011
• the 30 th of August, 1999
• Monday, July 30, 2018
• Tuesday, July 31, 2018
• Wednesday, August 1, 2018
• Thursday, August 2, 2018
• two thousand eighteen
• nineteen nighty-four
• The eighties

Writing out Money

• The apple cost sixty-two cents.
• The apple cost $0.62
• One dollar fifty cents
• One hundred dollars five cents
• two and ¼ dollars
• thirty-two cents
• https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/how-to-write-numbers/
• http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules-and-tips/rules-for-writing-numbers.html
• https://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-rules-for-writing-numbers-and-numerals/
• http://www.scribendi.com/academy/articles/when_to_spell_out_numbers_in_writing.en.html
• https://www.ole.bris.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/courses/Study_Skills/grammar-and-punctuation/index.html

By clicking "Log In", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.

Sign Up for your FREE account

Numbers Expressed in Numerals

In general, use numerals to express numbers 10 and above, and use words to express numbers zero through nine .

there were 15 psychologists at the clinic

the study had 40 participants

students were in the third, sixth, eighth, 10th, and 12th grades

However, there are exceptions to this general guideline for number usage. There are cases in which you should always use numerals to express numbers, even numbers zero through nine, and likewise, there are cases in which you should always use words to express numbers, even numbers 10 and above.

Numbers expressed in numerals are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual 6.32 and the Concise Guide Section 6.1

Related handout

• Numbers and Statistics Guide (PDF, 122KB)

Cases in which to always use numerals for numbers

Always use numerals to express numbers in the following cases, even numbers zero through nine:

Numbers in a series

Also use numerals to write numbers that denote a specific place in a numbered series when the number comes after the noun (e.g., Step 1). The noun before the number is also capitalized. This guideline applies to parts of books and tables as well (e.g., Chapter 1).

However, when the number comes before the noun, the usual guidelines for number use apply, as in the following examples.

Exceptions : Do not capitalize the abbreviations for page(s) or paragraph(s), even when they are followed by a numeral (e.g., p. 3, pp. 2–5, para. 9, paras. 1–4).

• I nfographics
• Show AWL words
• Subscribe to newsletter
• What is academic writing?
• Academic Style
• What is the writing process?
• Understanding the title
• Brainstorming
• Researching
• First draft
• Proofreading
• Report writing
• Compare & contrast
• Cause & effect
• Problem-solution
• Classification
• Essay structure
• Introduction
• Literature review
• Book review
• Research proposal
• Thesis/dissertation
• What is cohesion?
• Cohesion vs coherence
• Transition signals
• What are references?
• In-text citations
• Reference sections
• Reporting verbs
• Band descriptors

Show AWL words on this page.

Levels 1-5:     grey  Levels 6-10:   orange 

Show sorted lists of these words.

Any words you don't know? Look them up in the website's built-in dictionary .

Choose a dictionary .  Wordnet  OPTED  both

Writing numbers When to use words and when to use numerals

It can be difficult to know how to write numbers in academic writing (e.g. five or 5 , 1 million or 1,000,000 ). This section gives some guidelines on when to use words to write numbers, and when to use numerals . There are also some exceptions to the rule which are considered, i.e. times when you might expect to use words but should instead use numerals. There is also a checklist at the end, that you can use to check the use of numbers in your own writing.

When to use words

In general, words should be used for zero to ten , and numerals used from 11 onwards. The same rule should be applied to ordinal numbers, i.e. use words for first, second up to tenth, and numbers plus 'th' (or 'st') from 11th onwards. However, it is always best to check what the accepted practice is at your university (or in your department/on your course), and remember that some common referencing systems have their own, different requirements, as follows.

• MLA . Use words if the number can be written using one or two words (e.g. three , twenty-seven ).
• APA . Use words for numbers zero to nine.
• Chicago . Use words for numbers zero to one hundred.

Before looking at when to use numerals (which is almost all other situations, see next), it is useful to look at important exceptions.

(1) When the number begins a sentence , you should use words , whatever the size of the number (though if possible, rewrite the sentence so the number is not at the beginning).

• Fifty respondents agreed with the statement.
• There were 50 respondents who agreed with the statement. [ rewritten sentence ]
• 50 respondents agreed with the statement.

(2) When expressing part of a very large round number , e.g. million, billion, you should use words for that large number part (it is common to use abbreviations m for million and bn billion ).

• The population of the earth is now in excess of 7 billion people.
• The population of the earth is now in excess of 7bn people.
• The population of the earth is now in excess of 7,000,000,000 people.
• The population of the UK is approximately 70 million.
• The population of the UK is approximately 70,000,000.

Conversely, numerals should be used rather than words, whatever the size of the number, when large and small numbers are combined , since this makes comparisons easier.

• There were 2 respondents in the first category, and 22 in the second.
• There were two respondents in the first category, and 22 in the second.

When to use numerals

Numerals are used for almost all other situations. These include the following.

• Measurements (e.g. 6 kg, 3 cm, 10 min, 2 hr, 3 days, 6 years, 5 decades )
• Currency (e.g. $10, £50, £60 billion )
• Statistical data , including survey data (e.g. A survey of participants revealed that 4 out of 5 students worked. )
• Mathematical functions (e.g. v 2 = u 2 + 2as )
• Decimals (e.g. 2.5, 4.54 )
• Percentages (e.g. 75% )
• Ratios (e.g. 3:1 )
• Percentiles/quartiles (e.g. the 95th percentile, the 1st quartile )
• Times (e.g. 12.30 a.m., 6 p.m., 16:00 )
• Dates (e.g. Wednesday 25 December 2019 )
• Scores/points on a scale (e.g. This item scored 5 on a 9-point scale )

Other important points

The following are a few other points to remember when using numbers.

• Consistency. You should be consistent in how you write numbers; for example, if write a figure like 7bn in one place, do not write a figure like 5 billion in another.
• Use of commas. When giving numerals of 1,000 or larger, use commas for each thousand, e.g. 5,500, 8,326,500 .
• Use of hyphens. When displaying a range, use a hyphen, with no space, e.g. 30%–50%
• Expressing fractions. Fractions can be written either as numerals e.g. 2/3 or words e.g. two-thirds . If using words, use a hyphen.

American Psychological Association (2019a) Numbers Expressed in Words . Available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/numbers/words (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

American Psychological Association (2019b) Numbers Expressed in Numerals . Available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/numbers/numerals (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

Harvard Wiki (2019) Numbers . Available at: https://wiki.harvard.edu/confluence/display/HSG/Numbers . (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

University of Bristol (2015) Using numbers . Available at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_33.htm (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

University of New England (nd) Numbers in academic writing . Available at: https://aso-resources.une.edu.au/academic-writing/miscellaneous/numbers/ (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

University of Oxford (2015) Style Guide . Available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/media_wysiwyg/University%20of%20Oxford%20Style%20Guide.pdf (Accessed: 26 December, 2019).

GET FREE EBOOK

Like the website? Try the books. Enter your email to receive a free sample from Academic Writing Genres .

Below is a checklist for using numbers in academic writing. Use it to check your writing, or as a peer to help.

Next section

Read more about using complex grammar in the next section.

• Complex grammar

Previous section

Go back to the previous section about describing data .

Author: Sheldon Smith    ‖    Last modified: 16 January 2022.

Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .

Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.

Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).

Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.

Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).

Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.

Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.

MLA Style Guide

• How Do I Format My Paper?
• How Do I Format My Works Cited Page?
• In-Text Citations
• Using Numbers

Using Numbers in an Essay

Spell out numbers that can be expressed in either one or two words.  

•   one million
•   ninety-nine
•   one hundred
•   fifteen hundred

Always spell out the number if a sentence begins with a number.

Example: Two thousand twelve was an election year in the United States.

When Should I Use Numerals?

Use numerals if you are writing an essay about a scientific subject or an essay that includes frequent use of numbers, like statistical findings. 

Always use numerals:

•  in front of units of measurements. Example : 5 millimeters
•  with abbreviations such as 6 lbs., 4:20 p.m., $9, 2”, 4%.
•  in dates: Example: April 1, 2014
•  in decimal fractions: Example: 9.2

Exceptions:  

• For large numbers, you may use a combination of numerals and words. Example: 4.5 million
• In general use numerals with % signs, however, you may spell out percentages or amounts of money if you can do so in three words or less. Example: five dollars, forty-five percent, sixty-eight cents.
• << Previous: Quotations
• Next: Citation Examples >>
• Last Updated: Aug 14, 2023 11:33 AM
• URL: https://micds.libguides.com/mla

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Numbers & Statistics 

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Writers often need to discuss numbers and statistics in their manuscripts, and it can be a challenge to determine how to represent these in the most readable way. APA 7 contains detailed guidelines for how to write numbers and statistics, and the most common are listed below. These guidelines, however, are not exhaustive and writers may need to evaluate particular instances of numbers in their own writing to determine if the guideline applies or if an exception should be made for clarity.

Numbers 

Generally, you can spell out numbers below 10 in words (seven, three), and use numerals for anything 10 and higher (10, 42). 

• You should use Arabic numerals (1, 7) instead of Roman numerals (II, XI) unless the Roman numerals are part of established terminology in your field. 
• In numbers greater than 1,000, use commas to separate groups of three digits except in page numbers, binary code, serial numbers, temperatures, acoustic frequencies, and degrees of freedom. 
• Do not add apostrophes when writing a plural of a number (the 2000s, the 70s).

Use a numeral in these cases:

• a number 10 or higher anywhere in the paper
• a number right before a unit of measurement (3 m, 24 g)
• a number denoting: mathematical functions, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, percentiles (2:1 ratio, 5%)
• a number denoting: time, a date, an age, a point on a scale, an exact amount of money, or a numeral (the 3 key on your keyboard, 7 years old, a 5 on the test)
• a number indicating a place in a series or a part of a book/table, if the number is after a noun (i.e., Item 4, but words are used in cases like "the fourth item")

Spell the number out in words in these cases:

• a number from 0-9 anywhere in the paper, except the specific cases above
• a number that starts a sentence, heading, or title (though this should be avoided)
• a number that is a common fraction (one half, two thirds)
• a number that is part of a common phrase (Noble Eightfold Path)

When numbers are written next to each other in a sentence, one strategy to help readers parse the sentence is to combine words and numerals (3 two-year-old owls, four 3-step plans), but rewording to separate the numbers may be the best choice for clarity in some cases. Clarity for readers is always the most important consideration.

Ordinal Numbers 

Treat ordinal numbers (3rd, fourth) the same way as other numbers, using the guidelines above. You may use a superscript or not (1 st , 1 st ), but you should maintain the same usage throughout your paper.

Decimal Fractions 

In numbers less than 1, writers may include a leading 0 before the decimal point or not. This choice is based on the maximum possible amount of the statistic:

• If the statistic can be greater than 1, use a leading 0 (0.24 in)
• If the statistic cannot be greater than 1, do not use a leading 0 (p = .042)

APA's general principle for rounding decimals in experimental results is as follows, quoted here for accuracy: "Round as much as possible while considering prospective use and statistical precision" (7th edition manual, p. 180). Readers can more easily understand numbers with fewer decimal places reported, and generally APA recommends rounding to two decimal places (and rescaling data if necessary to achieve this).

Some more specific guidelines for particular values are listed below.

One decimal place:

• standard deviations

Two decimal places:

• correlations
• proportions
• inferential statistics
• exact p values (can be reported to two or three places; when p is less than .001, write p < .001)

Statistical Copy 

These rules cover presentation of data, not accuracy of data or the best way to conduct analysis.

You can represent data in the text, in a table, or in a figure. A rule of thumb is:

• <3 numbers → try a sentence
• 4-20 numbers → try a table
• >20 numbers → try a figure

Clarity is always paramount.

When discussing statistics in common use, you do not need to provide a reference or formula.

If the statistic or expression is new, rare, integral to the paper, or used in an unconventional way, provide a reference or formula.

The purpose of reporting statistics is usually to help readers confirm your findings and analyses; as such, the degree of specificity in reporting results should follow in line with that purpose.

When your data are multilevel, you should include summary statistics for each level, depending on the kind of analysis performed. When your data are reported in a table or figure, you do not need to repeat each number in the text, but you should mention the table or figure in the text when discussing the statistics and emphasize in-text key data points that help interpret your findings. 

Use words like "respectively" or "in order" to clarify each statistic mentioned in text and their referent.

For instance:

Confidence intervals should be reported: 90% CI [ LL, UL ], with LL as the lower limit and UL as the upper limit of the interval. You do not need to repeat confidence intervals in the same paragraph or in a series when the meaning is clear and the confidence interval has not changed. When CIs follow the report of a point estimate, you do not need to repeat the unit of measurement.

Statistics uses a great deal of symbols and abbreviations (when a term can be both, the abbreviation refers to the concept and the symbol indicates a numeric value).

You do not need to define these when they represent a statistic or when they are composed of Greek letters. You do need to define any other abbreviation (such as ANOVA, CFA, SEM) in your paper. If the analysis you are performing uses multiple notation styles for symbols and abbreviations, only use one consistently throughout your paper.

Some other statistical symbol guidelines include:

• use words rather than symbols in narrative text; when you report a stats term with other mathematical symbols like = or +, use the symbol
• population parameters use Greek letters while estimators use Latin letters in italics (usually)
• uppercase, italicized N indicates the total membership of a sample; lowercase, italicized n indicates the membership of a subgroup of a sample such as a treatment group or control group
• % and currency symbols like $ should only be used with numerals (15%, $25) or in table headings and figure labels to save space
• use standard type (no italics or bold) for Greek letters, subscript and superscript identifiers, and abbreviations that are not variables such as log
• use bold type for vector and matrix symbols
• use italics for all other statistical symbols

Mathematical Copy 

For ease of reading, use spaces between elements in a mathematical expression ( a + b = c ), except in the case of a minus sign indicating a negative number which uses a space before the minus but not between the minus and the numeral.

Use subscripts first and then superscripts, except in the case of key symbols like the superscript for prime.

All equations should be punctuated to fit in the syntax of the sentence, even if they are presented on their own line.

Short, simple equations can be written in a regular line of text, with a slash (/) for fractions. Parentheses, square brackets, and braces should be used (in that order, from innermost to outermost) to indicate order of operations. Equations that do not fit vertically in the line of text should be shown on their own line. 

All displayed equations (equations on their own line) should be numbered, similarly to tables and figures, so that they can be referred to later (and simple equations may be displayed rather than written in a line of text if they will need to be referred to later by number).

In text, equations should be referred to by name (Equation 1 or the first equation are both acceptable). The equation number does not need a special label, and instead should be displayed in parentheses toward the right margin of the page:

  If a symbol in your equation cannot be entered with your word processor, use an image; otherwise, type all equations exactly as you would like them to appear in the publication.

Writing academically: Numbers

• Academic style
• Personal pronouns
• Contractions
• Abbreviations
• Signposting
• Paragraph structure
• Using sources in your writing

Jump to content on this page:

“Quote” Author, Book

When using numbers in academic writing you need to decide if it’s more appropriate to use a numeral (e.g. 9) or to write the number in words (e.g. nine). It’s worth checking to see if your department has specific advice on this matter, because individual approaches do vary. In the absence of specific advice, here is some general guidance on the matter:

Basic numbers

• Numbers  up to nine  should always be written in  words,  anything higher than nine can be written in numerals. Alternatively, some guides suggest that if you can write the number in two words or fewer then use words rather than numerals. If you are going to take this approach then you should include a hyphen when writing numbers with two words, e.g. twenty-seven.
• For larger numbers, it is acceptable to use either numerals or words depending on context (e.g. a thousand people/1,000 people), but you should always use numerals in technical writing, e.g. 200,000 km. For less precise larger numbers, the written form is better (e.g. several thousand).

Measurements and decimals/fractions

• Use numerals for units of measurement or time, e.g. 500 km, 10 minutes.
• Always use numerals for decimals and fractions (e.g. 0.5 cm) unless the figures are vague (e.g. around half of the population).
• Units of measurement that modify a noun should be hyphenated, e.g. a 3-year-old child.

Percentages

• If you have expressed the number in words then follow the number by the word 'percent'. e.g. six percent.
• If you have expressed the number as a numeral then follow the number with the symbol '%'. e.g. 24%.

Dates, money and time

• Always use numerals for dates, e.g Monday 4 April, 2016.
• Use numerals for money (e.g. His pocket money was exactly £1.00 per week) unless the amounts are vague (e.g. He earned well over a million last year).
• Use numerals for indicating the precise time (e.g. 08:00), or words if the times indicated are vague (e.g. around eight o’clock). 

Combining numbers

• If you need to combine two numbers that run together then use words for the shorter number and numerals for the longer number, e.g. a tower of 1000 ten-pence pieces. 

Starting sentences with numbers

• Avoid starting a sentence with a numeral. Either write the number in words or rearrange your sentence. For example, “Three hundred and sixty-five days make one year” could become “There are 365 days in a year”. If you start a sentence with a year, write “The year” first e.g. “The year 1066 saw one of the most famous battles in English history”.
• << Previous: Voice
• Next: Contractions >>
• Last Updated: Aug 16, 2024 3:51 PM
• URL: https://libguides.hull.ac.uk/writing
• Login to LibApps
• Library websites Privacy Policy
• University of Hull privacy policy & cookies
• Website terms and conditions
• Accessibility
• Report a problem

How to Write About Money in APA Style

Rebecca renner, 25 jun 2018.

The number one mistake students make when writing in APA style is presenting numbers incorrectly. Sometimes it seems that you should write a number out in word form, but this is usually not the case in APA style. APA style is the formatting and citation style used and recommended by the American Psychological Association. As such, it's usually employed for writing about scientific endeavors in which exact numerical figures are key.

Explore this article

• Writing About Numbers in APA Style
• When to Write Out Numbers
• Writing About Money in APA Style
• Writing About Foreign Currencies

1 Writing About Numbers in APA Style

When writing in APA style, write numbers out in words for sums below 10. For sums above 10, write the number in numeral form.

Example: Nine of the students in class write with pencils, but 12 students prefer to write in pen.

Numbers are also written in numeral form if they represent dates or times.

Example: She broke her ankle 3 years ago.

Use numbers when referring to a specific place in a book as well.

Example: See Column 1 in Table 5 for more information.

2 When to Write Out Numbers

In some instances, you'll need to write out numbers in word form. Write numbers out when they refer to measurements below 10 that don’t require precision or when the number begins a sentence, heading or title.

3 Writing About Money in APA Style

In most cases, writing about money in APA style means writing about exact sums. Use the symbol for the currency you’re writing about.

Example: My mother gave me $5 to buy a snack.

Use numerals to indicate cents after the decimal point.

Example: A ticket to the movies costs $7.50 with a student ID.

When writing about sums of money with exact change, place the cent amount behind the decimal point. Don't begin with a zero if there's not a full dollar amount. It's also permissible to omit the dollar sign in these cases.

Example: After I bought lunch, the cashier gave me .23 cents in change.

For large sums of money, you can write out part of the amount if an exact number isn't needed.

Example: The country budgeted $4 trillion dollars for those services.

Use a decimal point to indicate a fraction of a large sum.

Example: The CEO paid himself $5.6 million dollars last year.

However, if you need to write out an exact sum, use numerals only.

Example: The company’s profit margin was $1,334,267 dollars last year.

4 Writing About Foreign Currencies

When writing about foreign currencies, the same rules apply. Change the currency symbol when necessary, and write out the type of currency if that's unclear. Use currency abbreviations, such as AUD for Australian Dollars, for clarity.

Example: When I landed in London, I exchanged my money for £100 at the airport.

Example: The exchange rate for Brazilian Reals is R$3.76 for one U.S. dollar.

Remember that clarity is key. Sometimes you may be tempted to break these rules in the name of clarity. However, if your writing is unclear, that should indicate the need to rearrange your sentence rather than break a rule.

• 1 Purdue OWL: APA Formatting and Style Guide
• 2 APA Style
• 3 Walden University: Other APA Guidelines: Numbers
• 4 APA Style Blog: How to Present Definite Numbers and Estimations

About the Author

Rebecca Renner is a teacher and freelance writer from Daytona Beach, Florida. Her byline has appeared in the Washington Post, New York Magazine, Glamour and elsewhere.

Related Articles

How to Write Numbers in APA Style

How to Write a Personal Check

Do You Type Out the Century in APA Format?

Money Activities for the Third Grade

Etiquette on Addressing Envelopes With a Suite Number

AP Style Degrees

Miss Manners' Etiquette for Addressing Envelopes

How to Divide the Old Fashioned Way

Porting a Prepaid Cell Number to Google Voice

Proper Use of Apostrophes

Location of the Checking Account Routing Number

APA Format for Numbers Over 20 in Text

How to Send a Letter to a Shanghai Address

The Proper Way to Write an Address

What Are Irregular Nouns?

APA Format for Numbers With Decimal Points

How to Teach Children to Recognize Coins

How to Record Tithes

How to Address a Formal Letter

How to Use the Forever Stamp for Overseas Mail

Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. Whether you’re studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers.

• Accessibility
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Copyright Policy
• Manage Preferences

© 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. See disclaimer .

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

In APA style, How should rough financial numbers be written?

If I have approximately five million dollars, should it be written as such? Or is one of the following more appropriate?

• 5 million dollars

4.31e stipulates:

Use numerals to express numbers that represent time, dates, ages, scores and points on a scale, exact sums of money , and numerals as numerals.

(emphasis mine)

As this isn't an exact sum, I might be more inclined to spell it out. This would also play along with the exception listed right below 4.31e:

Exception: Use words for approximations of numbers of days, months, and years (e.g., about three months ago).

Is there another option I'm not considering? Is this addressed somewhere else in the guide?

• writing-style

Your question has two components: 1) Whether to write out the number as a numeral or in words, and 2) whether to indicate "dollars" in words or with a symbol.

I did not find a direct answer or example in the manual, but a discussion on the APA style blog may provide some guidance:

http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2010/04/feel-like-a-number-part-3-the-earth-day-edition.html

To address issue one, look at the question in the comments sectiom (comment #7 from the top) where a student asks about the proper way to write about an approximate number of people. The author of the style post states that the correct answer is "Almost 3,000,000 people." She provides the explanation that because 3,000,000 is larger than 10, is should be written as a numeral. She does not comment on the issue of this being an approximate amount, but because the question is about an approximate number of people, it seems she interprets the exception to rule 4.31e as only pertaining to the units of time listed in the exception. Also, note that in the body of the blog post, the author refers to approximate units of time rather than approximate numbers in general.

To address issue two, look further in the comments section, at the bottom two comments on the page. Here, someone asks how to write about an amount of money that is less than $10. The author notes that in prose, she would recommend writing out the word "dollars," while in tables or with mathematical operators, it might be more appropriate to use the symbol (referring to rule 4.45 about describing statistics in text).

In sum, this discussion seems to indicate that "I have about 5,000,000 dollars" would be the correct form. The number would be written in numerical form because a) it is over 10 and b) it is not an approximate amount of time. The unit of money ("dollars") would be written in prose text and appear as a symbol on tables or when discussing mathematical operations.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged writing writing-style ..

• Featured on Meta
• Bringing clarity to status tag usage on meta sites
• We've made changes to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy - July 2024
• Announcing a change to the data-dump process

Hot Network Questions

• Is the "Asshur" in Genesis 10:11 a place or a person?
• Why does editing '/etc/shells' file using 'sudo open' shows an error saying I don't own the file?
• A study on the speed of gravity
• Word to classify what powers a god is associated with?
• How to cite a book if only its chapters have DOIs?
• A post-apocalyptic short story where very sick people from our future save people in our timeline that would be killed in plane crashes
• A short story where a space pilot has a device that sends the ship back in time just before losing a space battle. He is duplicated by accident
• Advice needed: Team needs developers, but company isn't posting jobs
• How to Vertically Join Images?
• Did the Space Shuttle weigh itself before deorbit?
• Is the Ted-Ed Leprechaun's Magic Bag Unique?
• tmux - How to remove delay after pressing prefix key and Up key
• Looking for a book from 25 ish years ago, Aliens mined Earth and made Humans their slaves, but a human bombs the alien homeworld,
• Why would Space Colonies even want to secede?
• Why did evolution fail to protect humans against sun?
• Is an invalid date considered the same as a NULL value?
• A short story about a demon, in a modernising Japan, living in electric wires and starting fires
• Base change in Chriss-Ginzburg
• What's wrong with my app authentication scheme?
• What does it mean to have a truth value of a 'nothing' type instance?
• Guitar amplifier placement for live band
• Relation between specific heats for a magnetic system
• What does "hypothecate" mean?
• Does the First Amendment protect deliberately publicizing the incorrect date for an election?

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

Correct format when talking about money $$

I'm writing a formal research paper (Highschool)

I have lots of statistics involving money (In fact, my whole essay is about the economy).

So a question arises about the format of writing money.

Would it be:

The company spent $4.5 billion dollars.

The company spent $4.5 billion.

Do I need to include the "dollars" at the end? Which one is more customary?

• $ and dollars are equal, hence you only need one, but the symbol would be easier for someone who is reading the paper. –  MaQleod Commented Jun 3, 2011 at 2:44

2 Answers 2

Go with the second option. The first is redundant - you've got $ as a symbol AND as a word.

• yes, it reads "Four point five billion dollars dollars." –  Lauren-Clear-Monica-Ipsum Commented Jun 3, 2011 at 11:55
• Also an option is "four point five billion dollars" or "4.5 billion dollars" or "4,500,000 dollars." As a sidenote, at least in MLA format any number under 1,000 is written out using words and only over 1,000 is written in digits. Of course if this is a mathematical or scientific paper different rules apply. –  justkt Commented Jun 3, 2011 at 12:20
• @justkt $4.5 billion would be $4,500,000,000 =P Yours says $4.5 million. –  Ralph Gallagher Commented Jun 3, 2011 at 14:04

Depending on the context, you might wish to consider specifying which currency it is, eg

The company spent $4.5 billion (USD)

As there are many different dollars, and they all use the same $ symbol.

If that is the only currency used within the paper then you could state that the currency is US dollars at the start rather than for every amount.

Your Answer

Reminder: Answers generated by artificial intelligence tools are not allowed on Writing Stack Exchange. Learn more

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest.

Required, but never shown

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy .

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged formatting essay or ask your own question .

• Featured on Meta
• Bringing clarity to status tag usage on meta sites
• We've made changes to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy - July 2024
• Announcing a change to the data-dump process

Hot Network Questions

• What does "hypothecate" mean?
• What is a word/phrase that best describes a "blatant disregard or neglect" for something, but with the connotation of that they should have known?
• DIN Rail Logic Gate
• What is the airspeed record for a helicopter flying backwards?
• Base change in Chriss-Ginzburg
• Can't figure out this multi-wire branch circuit
• Making blackberry Jam with fully-ripe blackberries
• How to cite a book if only its chapters have DOIs?
• Why HIMEM was implemented as a DOS driver and not a TSR
• How would a culture living in an extremely vertical environment deal with dead bodies?
• tmux - How to remove delay after pressing prefix key and Up key
• Finding the maximum squared distance between a pair of coordinates from a set of coordinates
• A short story where a space pilot has a device that sends the ship back in time just before losing a space battle. He is duplicated by accident
• Why would Space Colonies even want to secede?
• Is there a French noun equivalent for "twofer"?
• Are there jurisdictions where an uninvolved party can appeal a court decision?
• Relation between specific heats for a magnetic system
• Who became an oligarch after the collapse of the USSR
• How do I find the password to my privaterelay.appleid.com
• How predictable are the voting records of members of the US legislative branch?
• What does it mean to have a truth value of a 'nothing' type instance?
• Advice needed: Team needs developers, but company isn't posting jobs
• Making wobbly 6x4’ table stable
• With 42 supernovae in 37 galaxies, how do we know SH0ES results is robust?

• Skip to main content
• Skip to secondary menu
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Format Money in General Writing

By Erin Wright

Here are some basic guidelines for writing about money in general content. These guidelines are based on The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago style) and The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style). Our other primary style guides have been excluded because they provide little to no recommendations for formatting money.

All the examples shown below are for U.S. currency. “ How to Write Euros and Pounds as Words and Symbols ” explains how to format euros and pounds and “ How to Write Non-U.S. Dollars as Words and Symbols ” explains how to format dollars outside of the United States, such as Australian dollars and Hong Kong dollars.

Dollars and Cents without Numerals

Spell out references to dollars and cents without numerals. 1

Lee didn’t mind paying a few more dollars to get his car waxed after it was washed.

The price of gas has dropped several cents in the past week.

Amounts of Money Less than $1

Followers of AP style should use numerals with the word cent or cents for amounts of money less than $1. 2

Why does the penny candy in the jar cost 12 cents instead of 1 cent ?

Retailers in Chicago must charge customers 7 cents per bag.

Other than isolated references, followers of Chicago style should use the cent sign for amounts of money less than $1. However, if the reference appears near another amount of money $1 or greater, the cents should be formatted with the dollar sign and numerals. 3

The pet store donates fifty cents from every sale to the local animal shelter. ( Isolated reference )

The dairy charges a 5¢ deposit per bottle.

The price of widgets has increased from $0.75 to $2.12 over the course of six months.

If you aren’t a strict follower of AP style or Chicago style, simply choose a style and follow it consistently throughout your document. Although I personally follow Chicago style, I prefer the AP’s recommendation for spelling out cent because the cent sign is not readily available on standard keyboards.

Check out “ Three Ways to Insert Currency Symbols in Microsoft Word ” to learn how to insert the cent sign in your Word documents.

Amounts of Money Greater than 99¢ but Less than $1 Million

Use the dollar sign and numerals for specific amounts of money great then 99¢ but less than $1 million. 4

This desk sells for $249 in New York and $239 in Chicago.

Our storage fee is $895.99 per month.

Exception: Followers of Chicago style can spell out occasional references to amounts of money that are whole numbers less than $100. 5

$1 Million and Greater

Simplify large numbers by spelling out million , billion , and trillion . 6 You can include up to two numerals after a decimal point, if necessary. 7

The equipment upgrades will cost $1.25 million over three years.

We bought this startup for $990,000 ; it is now valued at $2 billion.

Final Thoughts

Although not an official style recommendation from any of our primary style guides, you may also want to consider streamlining large amounts of money by using approximate whole numbers if your readers don’t need to know the exact figure.

The neighboring property is listed for more than $6 million . (Instead of “The neighboring property is listed for $6,120,595 .”)

Sales soared above $1 billion last year. (Instead of “Sales soared to $1,000,105,000 last year.)

Now that your money is formatted, find out if it’s singular or plural .

1. The Associated Press Stylebook 2020–2022 (New York: Associated Press, 2020), 90.

2. The Associated Press Stylebook 2020–2022 (New York: Associated Press, 2020), 48.

3. The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 9.20.

4. The Associated Press Stylebook 2020–2022 (New York: Associated Press, 2020), 90; The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 9.20.

5.  The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 9.20.

6. The Associated Press Stylebook 2020–2022 (New York: Associated Press, 2020), 90; The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 9.24.

7.  The Associated Press Stylebook 2020–2022 (New York: Associated Press, 2020), 90.

• Microsoft Word Tutorials
• Adobe Acrobat Tutorials
• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Writing Tips
• Editing Tips
• Writing-Related Resources

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

How to express $1m in a formal document?

I'd like to say something like:

I helped my company win a $1m deal with customer A.

I'm not sure which one of the following is the best one for a formal document? e.g. in a resume:

1 million dollar deal , $1 million deal , 1 million$ deal , or anything better?

• expressions

• Why not use simply a million dollar deal ? Not sure you need the 1 when you have a . –  Dust_In_The_Wind Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 9:06
• it's WIN, not WON. Also you should be more precise, like "I won a $1.3m deal for the company." –  Fattie Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 12:14
• 1 @JoeBlow, I like the way you say "it's WIN" and then your example uses WON - lol. –  Ben Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 13:30
• LOL exactly !!! –  Fattie Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 14:59
• But serious Dej, it's "I helped win" or "I won" –  Fattie Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 15:00

3 Answers 3

Officially, m stands for milli (which means 10 -3 , i.e. a thousandth ), and M stands for mega , that is million . A $5k or a $2M deal would be better.

More formal would be

a five thousand dollar deal or a $5,000 deal a two million dollar deal or a $2,000,000 deal .

I would certainly refrain from mixing text and numbers, especially in formal writing, so I would avoid anything using

*$2 million, *$5 thousand

• What about a one million dollar deal ? Is it ok to put a and one together? –  Deqing Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 9:50
• I see no problem with a one (million) dollar deal , as it explicitly shows the deal is worth on million, not two or three . Just a million dollar deal means roughly the same, but it feels less precise. –  oerkelens Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 10:50
• @oerkelens Why not two or three? A in this case has a special meaning, not one per se. There is a recent related Q on ELU. I've not yet checked it again. –  Kris Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 11:11
• @Kris: are you asking why one does not mean two ? I am making exactly the point you seem to be expressing: a million dollar deal may not be about exactly one million ! –  oerkelens Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 11:25
• 1 the fact is though, it's extremely common to use "m" (not "M") when you're discussing such stuff. we did 3m this year, that was a 2m deal, etc. –  Fattie Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 12:16

1 million dollar deal — Use words instead: (a) one million dollar deal $1 million deal — correct, but unidiomatic 1 million$ deal — just plain wrong, currency symbol is not suffixed to words. $1m deal — correct, but unidiomatic

The options would thus be:

• One million dollar deal — should be okay
• A million dollar deal — idiomatic, preferred in literary/ narrative use
• A $1m deal — use in shortened versions, titles, captions, abstracts …
• A one million dollar deal — uses the idiom, use for effect.
• 1 Note that "a million dollar deal" need not have anything to do with one million or even with dollars. –  Kris Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 11:13
• A one-million-dollar deal, with a dash. –  Lambie Commented Jul 6, 2020 at 20:31

I guess the corrections may be the following: category-1 "I helped my company winning a million dollars' deal with customer A." "I helped my company winning a one million dollars' deal with customer A." category-2 "I helped my company winning a US$1 million (1M) deal with customer A." "I helped my company winning a $1 million (1m) deal with customer A." category-3 "I helped my company winning a US$1 million deal with customer A." "I helped my company winning a $1 million deal with customer A." category-4 "I helped my company winning a US$1M deal with customer A." "I helped my company winning a US$1m deal with customer A." category-5 "I helped my company winning a $1M deal with customer A." "I helped my company winning a $1m deal with customer A."

All, stated above, are correct; I, on the whole, prefer to use category-2/sentence no-1 .

REFERENCES: 1)https://www.onlinegrammar.com.au/writing-style-tips-how-to-write-about-money/ 2)https://www.avidcareerist.com/2014/01/06/how-to-abbreviate-million-on-your-resume/ 3)https://www.thebalance.com/write-numbers-using-words-4083198

• 2 Welcome to Stack Exchange! Most of the sentences you've written sound quite foreign to me. –  Sophie Swett Commented Jul 7, 2020 at 13:48

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged expressions or ask your own question .

• Featured on Meta
• Bringing clarity to status tag usage on meta sites
• We've made changes to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy - July 2024
• Announcing a change to the data-dump process

Hot Network Questions

• Is the Ted-Ed Leprechaun's Magic Bag Unique?
• On Schengen Visa - Venice to Zagreb - by bus
• How come I was allowed to bring 1.5 liters of liquid through security at Frankfurt Airport?
• Making blackberry Jam with fully-ripe blackberries
• Smallest natural number unrepresentable by fifty letters
• Output of a Diffractometer
• Has the application of a law ever being appealed anywhere due to the lawmakers not knowing what they were voting/ruling?
• A short story about a demon, in a modernising Japan, living in electric wires and starting fires
• What does "hypothecate" mean?
• Age is just a number!
• How to prevent erasing buffer content when an external program used in filter fails?
• Will the US Customs be suspicious of my luggage if i bought a lot of the same item?
• Can I cast True Strike, then cast Message to give someone else advantage?
• How to cite a book if only its chapters have DOIs?
• Do space stations have anything that big spacecraft (such as the Space Shuttle and SpaceX Starship) don't have?
• If Venus had a sapient civilisation similar to our own prior to global resurfacing, would we know it?
• Does the Ghost achievement require no kills?
• DIN Rail Logic Gate
• Get the first character of a string or macro
• Power line crossing data lines via the ground plane
• How to Vertically Join Images?
• How is lost ammonia replaced aboard the ISS?
• Do "Whenever X becomes the target of a spell" abilities get triggered by counterspell?
• How to handle stealth before combat starts?

Essay Papers Writing Online

Mastering the art of essay writing – a comprehensive guide.

Essay writing is a fundamental skill that every student needs to master. Whether you’re in high school, college, or beyond, the ability to write a strong, coherent essay is essential for academic success. However, many students find the process of writing an essay daunting and overwhelming.

This comprehensive guide is here to help you navigate the intricate world of essay writing. From understanding the basics of essay structure to mastering the art of crafting a compelling thesis statement, we’ve got you covered. By the end of this guide, you’ll have the tools and knowledge you need to write an outstanding essay that will impress your teachers and classmates alike.

So, grab your pen and paper (or fire up your laptop) and let’s dive into the ultimate guide to writing an essay. Follow our tips and tricks, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled and confident essay writer!

The Art of Essay Writing: A Comprehensive Guide

Essay writing is a skill that requires practice, patience, and attention to detail. Whether you’re a student working on an assignment or a professional writing for publication, mastering the art of essay writing can help you communicate your ideas effectively and persuasively.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key elements of a successful essay, including how to choose a topic, structure your essay, and craft a compelling thesis statement. We’ll also discuss the importance of research, editing, and proofreading, and provide tips for improving your writing style and grammar.

By following the advice in this guide, you can become a more confident and skilled essay writer, capable of producing high-quality, engaging essays that will impress your readers and achieve your goals.

Understanding the Essay Structure

When it comes to writing an essay, understanding the structure is key to producing a cohesive and well-organized piece of writing. An essay typically consists of three main parts: an introduction, the body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Introduction: The introduction is where you introduce your topic and provide some background information. It should also include your thesis statement, which is the main idea or argument that you will be discussing in the essay.

Body paragraphs: The body of the essay is where you present your supporting evidence and arguments. Each paragraph should focus on a separate point and include evidence to back up your claims. Remember to use transition words to link your ideas together cohesively.

Conclusion: The conclusion is where you wrap up your essay by summarizing your main points and restating your thesis. It is also a good place to make any final thoughts or reflections on the topic.

Understanding the structure of an essay will help you write more effectively and communicate your ideas clearly to your readers.

Choosing the Right Topic for Your Essay

One of the most crucial steps in writing a successful essay is selecting the right topic. The topic you choose will determine the direction and focus of your writing, so it’s important to choose wisely. Here are some tips to help you select the perfect topic for your essay:

By following these tips and considering your interests, audience, and research, you can choose a topic that will inspire you to write an engaging and compelling essay.

Research and Gathering Information

When writing an essay, conducting thorough research and gathering relevant information is crucial. Here are some tips to help you with your research:

Crafting a Compelling Thesis Statement

When writing an essay, one of the most crucial elements is the thesis statement. This statement serves as the main point of your essay, summarizing the argument or position you will be taking. Crafting a compelling thesis statement is essential for a strong and cohesive essay. Here are some tips to help you create an effective thesis statement:

• Be specific: Your thesis statement should clearly state the main idea of your essay. Avoid vague or general statements.
• Make it arguable: A strong thesis statement is debatable and presents a clear position that can be supported with evidence.
• Avoid clichés: Stay away from overused phrases or clichés in your thesis statement. Instead, strive for originality and clarity.
• Keep it concise: Your thesis statement should be concise and to the point. Avoid unnecessary words or phrases.
• Take a stand: Your thesis statement should express a clear stance on the topic. Don’t be afraid to assert your position.

By following these guidelines, you can craft a compelling thesis statement that sets the tone for your essay and guides your reader through your argument.

Writing the Body of Your Essay

Once you have your introduction in place, it’s time to dive into the body of your essay. The body paragraphs are where you will present your main arguments or points to support your thesis statement.

Here are some tips for writing the body of your essay:

• Stick to One Main Idea: Each paragraph should focus on one main idea or argument. This will help keep your essay organized and easy to follow.
• Use Topic Sentences: Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
• Provide Evidence: Support your main points with evidence such as facts, statistics, examples, or quotes from experts.
• Explain Your Points: Don’t just state your points; also explain how they support your thesis and why they are important.
• Use Transition Words: Use transition words and phrases to connect your ideas and create a smooth flow between paragraphs.

Remember to refer back to your thesis statement and make sure that each paragraph contributes to your overall argument. The body of your essay is where you can really showcase your critical thinking and analytical skills, so take the time to craft well-developed and coherent paragraphs.

Perfecting Your Essay with Editing and Proofreading

Editing and proofreading are essential steps in the essay writing process to ensure your work is polished and error-free. Here are some tips to help you perfect your essay:

• Take a Break: After writing your essay, take a break before starting the editing process. This will help you look at your work with fresh eyes.
• Focus on Structure: Check the overall structure of your essay, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Make sure your ideas flow logically and cohesively.
• Check for Clarity: Ensure that your arguments are clear and easy to follow. Eliminate any jargon or confusing language that might obscure your message.
• Grammar and Punctuation: Review your essay for grammar and punctuation errors. Pay attention to subject-verb agreement, verb tense consistency, and proper punctuation usage.
• Use a Spell Checker: Run a spell check on your essay to catch any spelling mistakes. However, don’t rely solely on spell checkers as they may miss certain errors.
• Read Aloud: Read your essay aloud to yourself or have someone else read it to you. This can help you identify awkward phrasing or unclear sentences.
• Get Feedback: Consider getting feedback from a peer, teacher, or writing tutor. They can offer valuable insights and suggestions for improving your essay.

By following these editing and proofreading tips, you can ensure that your essay is well-crafted, organized, and free of errors, helping you make a strong impression on your readers.

Related Post

How to master the art of writing expository essays and captivate your audience, convenient and reliable source to purchase college essays online, step-by-step guide to crafting a powerful literary analysis essay, unlock success with a comprehensive business research paper example guide, unlock your writing potential with writers college – transform your passion into profession, “unlocking the secrets of academic success – navigating the world of research papers in college”, master the art of sociological expression – elevate your writing skills in sociology.

Free Al Office Suite with PDF Editor

Edit Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE.

Read, edit, and convert PDFs with the powerful PDF toolkit.

Microsoft-like interface, easy to use.

Windows • MacOS • Linux • iOS • Android

• Articles of Word

How to Write a Hook- Steps With Examples

A hook in an essay or any piece of writing is like a fishing hook—it’s designed to grab your readers’ attention and draw them into the rest of your content. A well-crafted hook not only captures interest but also encourages readers to continue exploring what you have to say. If you’re unsure how to  write a hook that’s engaging, this article will provide you with effective tips for writing compelling openings, ensuring your engagement remains high.

What is a Hook?

A hook in writing is essentially a compelling sentence or paragraph that grabs the reader's attention from the very beginning. It sets the tone for the piece and entices readers to continue exploring what you have to say. To craft an effective hook, it needs to be engaging, informative, and suitable for the intended audience. This means it should capture interest, convey relevant information, and be appropriate for the reader's level and context. By focusing on relevance, audience, and cohesion, you can create a strong hook that not only draws readers in but also aligns with the main thesis and purpose of your writing.

6 Types of Essay Hooks

There are various types of hooks, each serving a different purpose and engaging the reader in unique ways.

Question Hook:

This type involves asking the reader a question that sparks their curiosity or gets them thinking.

For example:

"Have you ever watched the high-flying, jump shooting, slam dunking, ankle breaking players that play in the NBA?"

This question engages the reader by prompting them to visualize and think about the excitement of watching NBA players, setting the stage for a discussion about the thrill of the game.

Quotation Hook:

A quotation hook uses a relevant quote from a credible source to draw in the reader.

For instance:

"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen,” said Michael Jordan.

This quote from a famous athlete underscores the theme of determination and hard work, immediately connecting the reader to the topic of achieving success through effort.

Statistic Hook:

This type employs surprising or impressive statistics to catch the reader's eye.

"Just 0.00545 percent of the 550,000 boys playing high school basketball each year in the United States become a first-round draft pick."

This statistic highlights the incredibly slim chances of making it to the NBA, intriguing the reader with the stark reality and setting up a deeper exploration of what it takes to succeed in professional sports.

Anecdotal Hook:

An anecdotal hook uses a short story to illustrate a point and connect with the reader on a personal level.

"When I was in high school, I remember playing in an AAU basketball league and seeing a boy who practiced relentlessly every morning. Years later, he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers."

This story captivates the reader by providing a relatable and tangible example of dedication leading to success, making the topic more engaging and memorable.

Common Misconception Hook:

This type addresses a common misconception to grab the reader’s attention by challenging their existing beliefs.

"Many people believe that all professional athletes were naturally talented from a young age, but the truth is, most of them had to work incredibly hard to get where they are."

This hook piques the reader's interest by presenting surprising information that contradicts what they might think.

Rhetorical Statement Hook:

A rhetorical statement hook uses a bold statement or assertion to provoke thought or agreement.

"There's no shortcut to success in any field, including sports."

This kind of hook immediately sets a strong tone and encourages the reader to think about and agree with the statement, drawing them further into the essay.

How to Write a Hook [3 Steps with Examples]

Imagine yourself reading an article or an essay. Have you ever noticed that the first 2-3 lines set your entire mood? Either it looks interesting, or you might want to skip it. The same is true when someone reads your essay. This is why learning how to write a hook statement for an essay is crucial, and in this guide, I'll be sharing my process to help you write effective hook statements on your own.

I use a few simple steps for writing hook statements that help me craft an effective hook to engage readers and compel them to read further. Along with these steps, I also rely on writing tools, specifically WPS Office , which helps me significantly in writing a good hook. So, let's have a look at the process of learning how to write a hook for your essay, with a few examples.

1.Create an outline

First and foremost, you need to create an outline for your essay. This means your hook needs to be based on the information you plan to communicate through your essay. It's essential to lay the groundwork. Creating an outline helps you organize your thoughts and ensures your hook aligns perfectly with the rest of your essay.

Brainstorming:

To begin with your outline, start by brainstorming, where you can write down all the points you believe you can include in your essay. I usually carry out this step in WPS Writer, where I can type down all the important points I want to include in my essay. Additionally, if I find a few points on the internet, I can simply paste them into my WPS Writer document.

For example, let's say you're writing an essay about the impact of social media on mental health. Your main points might include:

The rise of social media usage

Positive effects on connectivity and community building

Negative impacts on self-esteem and anxiety

Strategies for healthy social media consumption

To further assist me in this process, I use WPS AI to help brainstorm ideas. A fresh perspective is always welcome, and when you're short on ideas, these suggestions can really enhance your essay.

Identify the Angle:

Once we have the main points, it's time to decide on the specific perspective or argument you want to present. This is where you'll start to shape your essay's unique voice. For instance, if your topic is social media, you might choose to focus on its double-edged nature, arguing that while it offers unprecedented connectivity, it also poses significant risks to mental well-being if not used mindfully.

Sketch the Structure:

With your main points and angle in mind, outline the basic structure of your essay. This doesn't need to be elaborate – a simple roadmap will do.

Your structure might look something like this:

Introduction (including your hook)

Brief history of social media's rise

Positive impacts on connectivity

Negative effects on mental health

Strategies for balanced use

Having this structure in place will help you craft a hook that seamlessly leads into the rest of your essay.

WPS AI can also assist in creating an outline. With a simple prompt, you can mention the details of your essay, and it will help you organize your main points and structure effectively.

2.Develop a Thesis

With your outline ready, it's time to develop your thesis statement. This is the core argument of your essay, and your hook should pave the way for it.

Be Clear and Specific:

Your thesis statement should clearly articulate your stance on the topic. Avoid ambiguous or uncertain statements. Focus on writing a precise and debatable assertion that provides a solid foundation for your argument.

For our social media essay, a strong thesis might be:

"While social media platforms have revolutionized communication and community-building, their unchecked use can significantly impact mental health, necessitating a balanced approach to digital engagement."

Ensure Relevance:

Make sure your thesis connects directly with the hook you plan to write. Your hook should intrigue readers about the argument you're going to make.

Keep it Focused:

Resist the temptation to cover everything in your thesis. A focused thesis is easier to argue effectively and helps keep your essay on track.

3.Write your Hook

Now for the exciting part – crafting your hook! Remember, the goal is to captivate your reader from the very first sentence. Let's look at some examples of different hook types we discussed earlier and break down why they work.

Example 1: The Question Hook

"Have you ever caught yourself mindlessly scrolling through your social media feed, only to look up and realize hours have passed?"

This hook works because it:

Directly engages the reader by asking a question

Relates to a common experience many readers can identify with

Introduces the topic of social media usage subtly

By posing this question, you're inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences, creating an immediate connection to your topic.

Example 2: The Statistic Hook

"In 2023, the average person spent 2 hours and 31 minutes per day on social media platforms – that's over 38 days a year scrolling, liking, and sharing."

This hook is effective because it:

Presents a surprising or shocking statistic

Immediately quantifies the impact of social media on our lives

Sets the stage for a discussion on the significance of social media use

Statistics like this grab attention by putting abstract concepts into concrete, relatable terms that can surprise or even shock your readers.

Example 3: The Anecdote Hook

"As I watched my teenage daughter burst into tears over a single Instagram post, I realized social media was no longer just a fun pastime – it had become a powerful force shaping her self-image and mental health."

This hook works well because it:

Tells a brief, relatable story

Evokes emotion and empathy

Introduces the theme of social media's impact on mental health through a personal lens

Personal stories can be powerful hooks, drawing readers in with emotional resonance and real-world relevance.

Example 4: The Quote Hook

"'We are creating and encouraging a culture of distraction where we are increasingly disconnected from the people and events around us,' warns technology ethicist Tristan Harris."

This hook is powerful because it:

Uses an expert's words to lend authority to your topic

Introduces a critical perspective on social media

Sets up a discussion on the broader implications of our digital habits

Quotes from experts can lend credibility to your essay right from the start, setting the tone for a well-researched discussion.

When writing your hook, consider your audience and the tone of your essay. Choose a hook style that aligns with your topic and engages your readers effectively. Don't be afraid to write several versions and ask for feedback – sometimes the perfect hook takes a few tries to get right.

And if you're still having trouble writing a perfect hook for your essay, you can try using WPS AI features like Improve Writing to craft more effective hooks. WPS AI will help ensure your hook reads well and communicates your message clearly to readers.

Bonus Tips: How to Polish your Hook with WPS AI

WPS Office is an excellent tool for anyone looking to enhance their writing. It's particularly useful as a writing companion, helping you refine your sentences, choose the right words, and correct errors. If you're struggling with writer's block, especially when trying to craft an engaging hook for your article, WPS Office can assist you in several ways.

Invoke the AI Writing Assistant:

This feature offers tailored suggestions for opening sentences or paragraphs that are designed to grab attention. It can help generate various types of hooks, such as intriguing questions, startling facts, or impactful quotes. By analyzing your topic and audience, the AI Writing Assistant provides options that resonate well, making it easier to start with a strong, engaging hook.

Request Feedback from the AI Chatbot:

The AI Chatbot reviews your initial draft and provides targeted feedback on your hook. It evaluates the effectiveness of your opening lines, suggesting ways to enhance their impact or refine your approach. Whether your hook needs more clarity, engagement, or relevance, the chatbot’s feedback helps you make necessary adjustments to ensure it captures and retains your readers' interest.

FAQs about Writing a Hook

1. why is it important to have a good essay hook.

A well-crafted essay hook is essential as it captures the reader's attention and motivates them to continue reading. Without a captivating hook, readers may lose interest and discontinue reading. An engaging hook ensures that the audience remains invested, thereby enhancing the likelihood of effectively conveying the essay's message.

2. What's the difference between a hook and a thesis?

A hook is a statement that captures the reader's attention and is positioned at the beginning of the introduction. A thesis explains the main point of the essay, paper, or other writing. Typically, a hook appears as the attention-grabbing opener, followed by additional sentences that connect it to the thesis, which presents the primary argument or premise of the writing.

3. How long is a hook?

A hook is typically one to two sentences long and appears at the beginning of the introduction. It should be brief and engaging to quickly capture the reader's attention and encourage them to continue reading.

Grab Your Audience Attention With The Help of WPS Office

As a writer, I often face challenges in writing something clever enough to grab readers' attention. That’s why I rely on WPS Office to help me on how to write a hook and its suite of tools to assist with my writing and content sharing. WPS Office offers a wealth of amazing tools and services that benefit everyone who uses them. I highly recommend downloading WPS Office to experience its powerful features for yourself.

• 1. How to Write a Call to Action - Steps with Examples
• 2. How to Write a Proposal [ Steps & Examples]
• 3. How to Write a Research Paper [Steps & Examples]
• 4. How to Write A thesis statement - Steps with Examples
• 5. How to Write an Argumentative Essay- Steps with Examples
• 6. How to Write A Literature Review - Steps with Examples

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.

• WEB STORIES New
• ENTERTAINMENT
• CAREER & CAMPUS
• INFOGRAPHICS
• Paris 2024 Olympics

• Manorama Online
• Manorama News TV
• ManoramaMAX
• Radio Mango
• Subscription

• Career & Campus

Avoid these common mistakes when writing an SOP for a foreign university

Are you aiming to pursue higher studies abroad? A crucial part of your application process is the Statement of Purpose (SOP). This essay plays a pivotal role in showcasing your academic achievements, career aspirations, and the unique qualities that make you a strong candidate for your chosen program. Crafting an effective SOP is essential for capturing the attention of admissions committees and demonstrating why you are the ideal fit for their institution. In this guide, we'll explore the key components of a successful SOP and offer tips to help you write a compelling and memorable essay.

The SOP is your opportunity to:

• Introduce yourself: Highlight your academic journey, work experience, and any personal or professional experiences that have shaped your interests and goals.
• Showcase your goals: Explain why you want to pursue graduate studies in your chosen field and how it aligns with your career aspirations.
• Demonstrate fit: Show why you are a good fit for the program and how the program aligns with your research interests or career goals. Mention specific faculty members, courses, or resources at the institution that appeal to you.
• Reflect on your experiences: Discuss any relevant research, projects, internships, or work experience that have prepared you for graduate study.
• Highlight your unique qualities: Emphasize what makes you unique as an applicant, such as your background, skills, or perspectives.

Key elements of a strong SOP 1. Introduction Start with a strong opening that grabs the reader's attention. This could be a brief anecdote, a personal story, or a statement that highlights your passion for the field.

Clearly state your purpose for applying to the program.

2. Academic background Discuss your academic achievements, relevant coursework, and any research or projects that have influenced your decision to pursue graduate studies.

Highlight any honours, awards, or publications that demonstrate your academic abilities.

3. Professional experience Describe any relevant work experience, internships, or professional roles that have contributed to your skills and knowledge in the field.

Explain how these experiences have prepared you for the challenges of graduate school.

4. Research interests Clearly outline your research interests and how they align with the program’s strengths.

Mention specific faculty members or research groups you are interested in working with and explain why.

5. Career goals Discuss your long-term career goals and how the graduate program will help you achieve them.

Explain how the program’s curriculum, faculty, and resources will support your career path.

6. Conclusion Summarize your motivations for applying and reiterate why you are a strong candidate for the program.

End with a positive and forward-looking statement that leaves a lasting impression.

Tips for writing an impactful SOP:

• Be specific. Avoid vague statements. Provide concrete examples of your achievements and experiences.
• Be honest. Don’t exaggerate or fabricate information. Authenticity is key.
• Tailor each SOP. Customize your SOP for each program you apply to. Mention specific aspects of the program that appeal to you.
• Proofread. Ensure your SOP is free of grammatical errors and typos. A well-written SOP reflects your attention to detail.
• Seek feedback. Have mentors, professors, or peers review your SOP and provide constructive feedback.

Common mistakes to avoid while writing an SOP

• Avoid generic phrases that could apply to any applicant. Make your SOP unique to you.
• Don’t overdo praise for the program or faculty. Focus on your qualifications and fit.
• Ensure your SOP has a clear structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• If the program provides specific questions or prompts, make sure to address them directly.

A well-crafted SOP can make a significant difference in your graduate school application by showcasing your qualifications and demonstrating your fit for the program.

Planning higher studies in the US? Be aware of these basic facts

633 Indian students died abroad in 5 years, 19 deaths due to attacks

• Career and Campus
• Abroad Education

Two million Florida voters are being disenfranchised by write-in, ghost candidates

About two weeks after Sandra Maddox qualified to run for county commission in Santa Rosa County, a campaign sign for the frontrunner in her own race — incumbent and fellow Republican James Calkins — oddly popped up in her own yard.

“The sign was right in front of her mailbox,” said Diane Warner, a retiree in the area who spends her free time investigating elections. “I drove out there, and I just stopped by and took pictures.”

The connection between Maddox and her on-paper political opponent goes deeper than just yard signs. The Florida Trident learned that Maddox’s son, Roger Belanger, did work for Calkins’ campaign, ostensibly in league against his own mother, who is 80-years-old and has been almost entirely absent from the race.

READ MORE: 1 million more: Growing Florida GOP tops Democratic voters in political milestone

Belanger received $5,000 from Calkins for “advertising,” campaign finance records show. In 2022, Calkins described Belanger as a “good friend” in a social media post.

“It’s incredulous,” said Warner, a Republican voter. “They walk right up to the line of slimy, and it gets old.”

Maddox’s candidacy may seem absurd on its face, but her entrance as a write-in for District 3 had a profound impact. If Calkins had run alone as an unopposed Republican for the seat, the primary would have been open under Florida law, allowing Democrats and and independents to vote. When Maddox filed to run, however, it closed the primary to everyone except Republicans, disenfranchising everyone else.

The bad news for non-Republican Santa Rosa County voters doesn’t end there: Write-in candidates have closed all three county commission races there, meaning some 52,000 registered voters in the county will not have a voice in who is representing them. Maddox, Belanger and Calkins did not respond to requests for comment from the Trident.

The problem is prevalent statewide. A Florida Trident analysis of candidate filing information and voter registration data found that more than 2 million voters across Florida have been shut out from at least one state or local election this year because of the loophole in the Florida Constitution that allows write-in candidates to close primaries.

“They’ve been used as ghost candidates,” explained Ben Wilcox, research director for Integrity Florida, a nonpartisan research institute and government watchdog. “It’s a tactic that both parties use.”

“Ghost candidates” are candidates who aren’t serious about winning an election, but want to influence the outcome. Wilcox explained there are two types of these candidates: write-in candidates who run to close primary elections and candidates whose names appear on the ballot in an effort to siphon votes from another candidate.

“One thing that both of those types of candidates have in common,” said Wilcox, “is that they’re being used to manipulate elections.”

None of the write-in candidates in Santa Rosa have raised or spent any money on their campaigns, and most don’t live in the district they’re running to represent.

Those are “red flags” of possible ghost candidates, explained Wilcox. “For the most part, they don’t campaign; they’re just not serious candidates.”

Florida is ‘infested’ with ghost candidates in 2024 

Write-in candidates have closed at least one local race in 20 counties across Florida. Write-in candidates have closed three legislative races in Duval County, including Senate District 5 and House Districts 13 and 14.

“Florida is infested with ghost candidates,” Wilcox said. “They’re everywhere in local races [and state] legislative races. It’s just a real problem.”

The Trident reviewed candidate filing information and voter registration data from the state Division of Elections and all 67 county supervisor of elections’ websites in the state. The findings show write-in candidates have disenfranchised 2 million registered voters in these counties: Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Gadsden, Hernando, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter and Walton.

“They never win,” Wilcox explained. “Somebody would have to do a really extensive campaign to get the word out that they want voters to write in their name so that they would actually have a chance to win that election.”

The open primary system was introduced in an amendment to the state constitution that voters approved in 1998.

“The hope was that it would reduce the extremes on either side,” Wilcox said, adding that the amendment didn’t fulfill its purpose. “The constitutional amendment did not address write-in candidates.”

In 2000, the state Division of Elections adopted a rule that required closed primaries whenever a write-in candidate qualified to run for an election. “The Legislature didn’t take any action,” Wilcox said.

Ever since the rule was adopted, “we’ve seen write-in candidates in Florida used as ghost candidates to close primary elections,” Wilcox said. “Both Democrats and Republicans like to have their primaries closed. They want their voters to decide who the representative is going to be.”

Efforts to eliminate the write-in candidate loophole have failed 

In 2018, the Florida Constitutional Revision Commission considered a proposal to simply close the write-in candidate loophole, but it was rejected and never went before voters.

“They weren’t able to get a majority vote to put that on the ballot,” Wilcox said. “That’s one solution to this whole problem.”

The proposal would’ve required open primaries whenever a write-in candidate enters a race that has only one party’s candidates on the ballot and no other general election opposition. A 2017 bipartisan measure in the Florida Legislature proposing the same solution died in committee without getting a single vote.

Wilcox says lawmakers could deter ghost candidates by making it harder for those candidates to qualify to run. Unlike candidates whose names appear on the ballot, write-in candidates aren’t required to pay filing fees or collect signatures. If they faced those same requirements, it would likely curb the number of write-in candidates, he explained.

The only way voters can get around the write-in candidate loophole is to switch their party affiliation before the primary election.

After recently moving to Santa Rosa County, Ilana Porzecanski couldn’t vote in any 2022 state or local elections because she was a Democrat, shut out of Republican primaries due to write-in candidates.

“Much to my surprise, there were these write-in ghost candidates who had not run a campaign, had not picked up any money for their campaign, and were just there to close the primary,” she said.

This year, Porzecanski switched her party affiliation after finding out that write-in candidates had closed the primary in three county commission races.

“I have chosen to change my party affiliation to Republican, so that I can access these important local elections,” she said. “I knew I couldn’t just be upset about it — I had to do something.”

About the Author: Valerie Crowder is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Tallahassee, Florida. She’s the founder and publisher of  The Panhandle Press , an independent local news website. The Florida Trident is an investigative news outlet focusing on government accountability and transparency across Florida. The Trident was created and first published in 2022 by the Florida Center for Government Accountability. Copyright 2024 WGCU

You're reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool's Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

How $200 Per Month Can Make You a Millionaire

• You only need one simple ETF to safely grow your money over the long term.
• However, adding quality growth stocks to your portfolio can make a world of difference for your financial future.
• Motley Fool Issues Rare “All In” Buy Alert

NYSEMKT: VOO

Vanguard s&p 500 etf.

Here's a simple strategy to build wealth in the stock market.

A few hundred dollars per month is all you need to build up a mountain of savings over your working career. By dollar-cost averaging in the stock market at regular intervals, you don't need to stress about the occasional market dips.

The most important thing is to know that the stock market will fall at some point -- there's no way around it. But the long-term growth of the economy will see it rise more often than it falls. Investors who remain persistent in regularly buying shares of growing companies will build lasting wealth.

Here's how $200 per month can turn into $1 million.

Invest in the best companies

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF ( VOO 0.21% ) tracks the underlying performance of the S&P 500 index, the most popular broad-market benchmark. This ETF (short for exchange-traded fund ) immediately provides investors broad diversification in some of the best companies in the world, and it's all that most retirement savers will ever need to grow their money.

The fund is currently invested in 504 holdings, with the top 10 making up some 35% of the fund. Among those top 10 are six of the " Magnificent Seven ," an elite group of tech stocks of highly profitable companies with above-average growth potential. The performance of this group is largely why the index is up 18% over the past year.

For most investors just starting out, this ETF is all you need to build your savings. Over the last five years, companies in the fund have increased their earnings by an average of 17.5% annually, which has nearly doubled the value of the fund over the last five years.

But even if the fund reverts to its historical average annual return of about 10%, which goes back to 1957, a regular investment of $200 per month would grow to be worth $1 million in 38 years.

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has a low expense ratio of just 0.03%, meaning that it costs an investor just $0.30 for every $1,000 invested. Moreover, the minimum investment is only $1, making it very affordable for anyone to start investing in the stock market.

Why invest in growth stocks

Some investors are completely satisfied with the returns of dollar-cost averaging in an index fund. Others might want to consider supplementing an index fund with growth stocks . It's easier than it may seem to pick stocks that can outperform the S&P 500, and it can make a huge difference in your returns.

If you were deciding where to invest, say, $1,000 per month in savings, a sensible approach would be to put at least half that in an index fund. With the rest, you could dollar-cost average in a group of top growth stocks . The appeal of this approach is that you're maintaining a solid investment in a well-diversified index fund, while positioning yourself to benefit from the above-average return potential that growth stocks offer.

For example, if you had invested just $100 per month in Amazon ( AMZN -0.30% ) starting in 2010, your investment would currently be worth $100,000. The same investment in Microsoft ( MSFT -0.61% ) would have grown to $129,000 (including dividends), and $100 per month in Netflix ( NFLX 1.64% ) would be worth $178,000.

By comparison, the same $100 invested every month in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF would currently be worth $45,000. A lot of investors try to time when to buy a growth stock and then never add to that initial investment. But it's a lot easier to decide what companies are likely to keep growing and regularly buy shares. This allows an investor to benefit from the growth of the company over many years without worrying about the short-term bumps from market volatility , or whether the stock is too expensive right now.

Data by YCharts.

What should you look for in a growth stock? Think about basic traits that successful companies in the past had in common. Here are three things Amazon, Microsoft, and Netflix shared 14 years ago:

• These were not obscure companies. All three had a large base of customers who were happy with the service.
• They were not struggling to grow and had a history of delivering strong revenue growth.
• They had opportunities for more growth.

To this day, Amazon is chasing a multitrillion-dollar e-commerce market that gives it ample room to grow for many years, not to mention the burgeoning opportunities for its cloud computing business. Amazon made $604 billion in revenue over the past four quarters. But its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing unit is one of its fastest-growing businesses and generated $98 billion of revenue in that same period. The growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) services is a tremendous growth opportunity for AWS, as well as Microsoft.

Microsoft has already launched Copilot, a generative-AI- powered assistant, on 225 million Windows PCs. The software leader has the second-largest cloud service, behind Amazon, and its productivity software is the gold standard for working professionals. This opens the door for lots of ways it can monetize AI services to pad its bottom line.

Netflix has 277 million streaming video subscribers and is still adding to that number. There are an estimated 1.5 billion households globally with broadband internet connections, which provides a long runway of growth.

Wall Street analysts forecast all three companies to continue growing their earnings at 14% or better annually over the next several years. Assuming those estimates prove accurate, investors who dollar-cost average into these stocks can expect a similar return on their investment.

To be a successful growth investor, you don't need to time the market or understand how to value a stock. All you need to do is identify well-known companies that are consistently growing their revenue, and then keep buying shares like clockwork.

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

Related Articles

Premium Investing Services

Invest better with The Motley Fool. Get stock recommendations, portfolio guidance, and more from The Motley Fool's premium services.