> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://sftpmag.gitbook.io/sftp-publishing/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://sftpmag.gitbook.io/sftp-publishing/style-guide/numbers-and-dates.md). # Numbers and Dates ## Numbers Spell out whole numbers up to (and including) one hundred (e.g., zero, one, ten, ninety-six) and use numerals for greater numbers (104, 1001, etc.) However, if there are many numbers referring to the same thing or several numbers in the same sentence, and some are over one hundred, use numerals for consistency. Never start a sentence with a numeral. If the author wrote, “101 dogs” either re-write (“The dogs numbered 101”) or spell it out (“One hundred one dogs”). Percentages: always use numerals, never use the symbol: 1 percent. 99 percent. Spell out whole numbers up to (and including) twenty when followed by hundred, thousand, hundred thousand, million, billion, and so on (e.g., eight hundred, 12,908, three hundred thousand, 27 trillion). For ages: hyphenation is as follows: * a three-year-old \[hyphenate compound noun!] * a five-year-old child \[hyphenate compound adjective] * a fifty-five-year-old woman * a group of eight- to ten-year-olds **but** seven years old ## Dates We do not use the Chicago style for dates, preferring to write May 1, 2013, not 1 May 2019. ### Decades and years The seventies, eighties, not the '70s, '80s. Or, the 1970s and 1980s, not 1970s and '80s. Occasionally, you could say the class of '84 or the events of '68, but otherwise, use a more formal style. There is no apostrophe with years: 1940s. April 18, not April 18th. Always spell out a date at the beginning of a sentence: “Eighteen forty eight was a year of revolution, and many thought 1968 would follow it.” Rephrase if it seems awkward: ‘The year 1848 was one of revolution, and many thought. . .” --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://sftpmag.gitbook.io/sftp-publishing/style-guide/numbers-and-dates.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.