A guide to writing numbers and currencies.
Numbers 0-9 should be written as words.
For example:
No fees for six months.
Use numerals for numbers 10 and above.
For example:
Get credit for up to 30 days.
Use numerals instead of words for:
- business days
- age
- school years
- dates and business days
- street addresses
- tips articles
- instructions
- snappy copy
- mobile apps where space is limited.
For example:
5 TIPS FOR PAYING OFF YOUR MORTGAGE FASTER
6 WAYS TO SAVE MORE
Avoid starting a sentence or heading with a number unless it’s a rate, dollar amount, points or tips/reasons/steps, etc.
For example:
$3K CASHBACK WITH A WESTPAC HOME LOAN
$3,000 cashback
Get $3k cashback…
Use commas for numbers 1,000 and above.
Thousands, millions and billions can be expressed using k, m, b – and should always be used as such in headings, disclaimers and T&Cs.
For example:
5m customers…
$5b worth of shares…
Note: For rewards points, it’s preferable to use ‘000s as it looks more impressive.
BSB numbers include a dash after the first three digits.
For example:
732-118
Telephone numbers should include spaces.
For example:
6-digit: 132 032
10-digit: +61 2 9155 7700
Mobile: 0439 111 222
Note: Telephone numbers need to be hyperlinked and underlined for accessibility.
Number ranges use an en dash without spaces on either side.
For example:
8am–8pm
18–34 year olds
Years 7–12
Percentages should be %, not ‘percent’
For example:
Earn up to 3% p.a. interest
Get a fixed rate of 1.99% p.a.
Note: No decimal place if a whole number; two decimal places if any decimal applies.
Number rankings can either be:
- ‘first’, ‘second’, etc.
- #1, #2, #3
- no. 1, no. 2
For example:
Westpac is Australia’s second biggest bank
Westpac is aiming to be Australia’s #1 mobile banking app.
Our no.1 business account.
Use the abbreviation for foreign currencies (e.g. NZD, USD, GBP) without the currency symbol.
For example:
Do: NZD10,000
Don't: NZD$10,000
Use lower case when the currency is spelled out.
For example:
euro, dollar, sterling, pound