This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English
  3. Law: Contract(s)

Numbers and figures in contracts

English translation: Numbers are written out

13:04 Nov 25, 2010
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law: Contract(s)
English term or phrase: Numbers and figures in contracts
Hi,

Do contracts in UK English or US English write out numbers in words?

I.e. The subcontractor is entitled to a payment of EUR 1,000 (one thousand euros)

OR simply

The subcontractor is entitled to a payment of EUR 1,000.

The source includes both but that is culture-specific to the source language and I am not sure if it has to be rendered in the target. I find it awkward in English.

Thanks for the help.
Lingua.Franca
Spain
Local time: 00:10
Selected answer:Numbers are written out
Explanation:
According to the Litttle Book of The Little Book on Legal Writing:
"Lawyers often use both words and numerals for dollar amounts in contracts to ensure no mistake is made"
This has been the case with most contracts I have edited (both US and UK)

Selected response from:

Donna Stevens
Norway
Local time: 00:10
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +2Numbers are written out
Donna Stevens
4numbers for 10 and over
Stephanie Ezrol
4they are repeated
Jack Dunwell


  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
numbers and figures in contracts
numbers for 10 and over


Explanation:
This is a style question which may differ from company to company but it is usual in the U.S. to spell out numbers under 10, and use numerals for 10 and over.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2010-11-25 13:23:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Let me add some exceptions:

numbers for times and dates
numbers for sums of money - $ 7 million
ages - 6 year old boy, 6-year contract
percentages - 3 percent, 5.5 years, 3 to 1 (percentages)
names or parts of books, volumes, figures - Section 2, Volume 3

Stephanie Ezrol
United States
Local time: 18:10
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: But I think that only really addresses the style issue for numbers in the text, which is not really what Asker is enquiring about here.
3 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
numbers and figures in contracts
Numbers are written out


Explanation:
According to the Litttle Book of The Little Book on Legal Writing:
"Lawyers often use both words and numerals for dollar amounts in contracts to ensure no mistake is made"
This has been the case with most contracts I have edited (both US and UK)



Example sentence(s):
  • The subcontractor is entitled to a payment of EUR 1,000 (one thousand Euros)

    Reference: http://books.google.com/books?id=682aCPCu5o8C&pg=PA22&lpg=PA...
Donna Stevens
Norway
Local time: 00:10
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jack Doughty
31 mins
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): Exactly, it is the legally correct thing to do.
7 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 days 5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
numbers and figures in contracts
they are repeated


Explanation:
Where there is "1,000 Euros (one thousand Euros)"
It is a safety mechanism to ensure that numbers are represented by words.To distinguish doubt.

Jack Dunwell
France
Local time: 00:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 3
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search