<p>Moved from Essays…anyone know the answer? Starting sentence: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>I am 5 feet tall and weigh 90 pounds. OR</p></li>
<li><p>I am five feet tall and weigh 90 pounds.OR</p></li>
<li><p>I am five feet tall and weigh ninety pounds.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Trying to create a picture for the reader…is it incorrect to write #1? Seems most graphic but do not want a grammar mistake in the first sentence!</p>
<p>A condensed version of the AP Style Guide, available here:
[Associated</a> Press Style Essentials](<a href=“Welcome | Journalism | Western Washington University”>Welcome | Journalism | Western Washington University)
suggests that #2 is correct. However, I don’t think anyone would choke on the sentence if you picked #1–some might even prefer it.</p>
<p>In any event, it is more a question of style than grammar.</p>
<p>Numbers under ten: spelled out.</p>
<p>Numbers over ten in number form.</p>
<p>It depends on the style guide you are using. Chicago Manual of Style? AP Style? MLA style? APA style? One of the scientific styles?</p>
<p>Some style guides call for spelling out numbers less than ten, others for spelling out numbers less than 100.</p>
<p>Some style guides say that if you need to use numerals for one number in a sentence, you should use numerals for all numbers in that sentence for consistency (overruling the general principle above).</p>
<p>Some style guides, particularly the scientific ones, say that if a number precedes a unit of measure, it should be spelled out, even if it is less than ten, although numbers less than ten might not be spelled out in other situations. (Feet and pounds are units of measure.)</p>
<p>So any of your three choices might be correct depending on what style guide you’re following.</p>
<p>I personally prefer the version you listed first because I think all numbers should appear as numerals before units of measure. But I earn my living as a scientific editor. I’m biased.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>So, what does one do with “ten”?</p>
<p>Ha. Thank you for the comments. Aware of the “rules,” just preferred #1 like QuantMech said, paints more of a picture. In light of the fact that is a common application essay and who knows who is reading it, will abide by the “rules” and go with #2.</p>
<p>It makes no difference. Pick the way you want. Try to be consistent within that particular story, essay, etc.</p>
<p>I’m a little old-fashioned, but I’d go with</p>
<p>IV. I am V feet tall and weigh XC pounds.</p>
<p>If the essay template has a strict character limit, then I would go with 5 & 90.</p>
<p>No. 1 is correct, per AP style.</p>
<p>If you want to create a picture say:</p>
<p>I have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 17.6.</p>
<p>Please stick to whatever style guide you’ve chosen. You are not going to paint a better picture (or even a different picture) by monkeying with the style guide. Your opening sentence should not need such subtle distinctions to make it pop. If you think it does, you might want to consider the merits of the sentence.</p>
<p>^Agreed. If you could say, for example, “I am 5 feet tall and weigh 90 pounds, but I would weigh more if I had all 4 limbs,” THAT would get their attention.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>^^^^^There you go.</p>
<p>What I’ve been told is that if it takes more than 10 (or so) characters to type out the word, use the numeral.</p>
<p>^^^Um, no. Perhaps you forgot an emoticon? (Sorry, but I’m a style freak. Messing with AP, not to mention the Chicago Manual of Style, ain’t funny!)</p>
<p>I assume your petite stature will become important later in the essay.</p>
<p>But, number or numeral, for me it’s a yawn of an opening sentence. Remember that rule of good writing, “show, don’t tell.” Make the size issue part of the story.</p>
<p>My fertile brain comes up with several good 2nd sentences.</p>
<p>“I’m the perfect size for coxswain, which has been my early morning weekend obsession for 3 years now.”</p>
<p>“You wouldn’t think I could lift a Volkswagon off of an injured pedestrian, but…”</p>
<p>“My Shetland pony thinks I’m the perfect size.”</p>
<p>Here are the best rules that make the most sense:</p>
<p>[Rules</a> for Writing Numbers](<a href=“http://www.grammarbook.com/numbers/numbers.asp]Rules”>Rules for Writing Numbers | When to Spell Out Numbers)</p>
<p>I love mommusic’s contributions. As for the rules: Pick a style book and go with it. Alloutforivy’s “rules” may be fine but it is not clear from which style guide they’re derived. Just use one of the standard guides to be safe. AP is easier to digest than the Chicago manual. Also, get a copy of Strunk and White for tips on writing clean, interesting prose.</p>