The numbers game...

7 Jun 2014

So, I'm currently writing a story that incorporates my fascination with writing erotica and my fascination with airplanes. The question is, do I spell out the model number of the plane, or is it okay to write something like "the Boeing 747-400's jet engines began to gear down..."? Thank you in advance for your time and concern.

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8 Jun 2014

Quote by HeraTeleia
So, I'm currently writing a story that incorporates my fascination with writing erotica and my fascination with airplanes. The question is, do I spell out the model number of the plane, or is it okay to write something like "the Boeing 747-400's jet engines began to gear down..."? Thank you in advance for your time and concern.

For big numbers - yes - perfectly fine to use digits and not write it out in long form.

I use digits for years, large sums of money, room number and house numbers - stuff like that. So I would use it for airplane numbers. Imagine writing it out (which the reader can stumble over): Seven-forty-seven-four-hundred's . . . what? Regaeman Man

8 Jun 2014

Numbers that are part of a name or model description or that are cited literally from a document/display/sign can and should be written as digits. So Boeing 747-400 is fine, as would be a Nikon D90 camera, room 151A or a BMW X5.

8 Jun 2014

Likewise, if it's a make or model number that's fine. I try to use words but only for nice round numbers, three words maximum is my own house style. Any more than that I use the number itself.