CAN-ASC 3.1 Plain Language: Public review draft – Annex B (informative)

Numbers should be given context in text, expressed consistently and in parallel form within a sentence or paragraph. Do not switch between or compare numerals and percentages.

Express numbers in a consistent format throughout the material:

1. Express numbers as digits (2, 3, 4) rather than words (two, three, four).
   1. Use digits for numbers 2 through 999.
      Note: Exceptionally, use words if the number is the first word in a sentence.
   2. Use hyphens inside the digits of a telephone number instead of periods or spaces.

Notes:

1. For example "There were 359 vaccine appointments and only one cancellation."
2. This requirement does not apply to figures of speech. For example, one-time payment, a two-piece suit, a three-ring circus, a four-leaf clover, a five-star hotel, the seven seas, a figure eight, on cloud nine, a top-ten list, etc.

Choose a font that lets the audience differentiate between the digits when the document has many numerals.

Note: Prefer fonts which will align the numbers so that they are easily differentiated from others.

Use words when they are easier to understand than figures, for example:

1. Use words to express numbers one, thousand, million, billion, and trillion.
2. In non-technical material, express simple fractions like "one-half", "one-quarter", "two-thirds", and "three-quarters".

Note: There is an exception for imperial units of measure (e.g., ½ cup).

1. For each metric unit of measurement, provide the equivalent imperial units in brackets according to the audience (pounds - kilograms) .
2. Express dates using standard word format: March 22, 1963 (English)/22 mars 1963 (French)" to avoid confusion.
3. Number formats are interpreted differently depending on the language and culture.

For examples, see 4.4.6.5 in the following document: https://www.w3.org/TR/coga-usable/#examples-16.

Express dates using the standard number format or words in printed documents: yyyy-mm-dd or March 22, 1963 (English)/dd-mm-yyyy or 22 mars 1963 (French).

Express a number in word form when it appears at the beginning of the sentence.

Note: A good example is "Twenty-nine children received their vaccine."

Use simple prose captions or explanatory phrases with numbers to improve clarity.

Note: Here is an example: Only a few people are affected by this, or 1 in 1,000 people.

Decide whether numerals or words are clearer following these practices:

1. Only use complicated fractions in number format or spelled out in technical material.
2. Only use decimals when it is essential, as in medicine dosage, or when the number is too large to round up or down, such as a budget number of $1.7 billion.
3. Only use Roman numerals when:
   1. They are part of the proper name of a person, place, or things, such as Charles IV or Bluenose II.
   2. They are used in existing publications, such as books or laws.
4. Situate an event in time using simple benchmarks known to the audience. For example. "A long time ago…" instead of "In 1835…", "After the Second World War…" instead of "In 1952…".