How to Write Numbers and Amounts in Words

Writing numbers in words comes up on cheques, invoices, and legal documents. The rules are simple once you know how the groups and hyphens work — or you can spell any number instantly with a converter.

Spell any number instantly

Type a number into the Number to Words converter to get it in words, plus a dollars-and-cents version for cheques. It runs in your browser.

The basic rules

• Group in threes from the right: hundreds, then thousand, million, billion.
• Hyphenate compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine (e.g. forty-two).
• “and” is used before the tens/units in British style (one hundred and five); American style often drops it.

Examples:

• 42 → forty-two
• 1,234 → one thousand two hundred thirty-four
• 1,000,000 → one million

Writing amounts on a cheque

Write the whole-dollar amount in words, then the cents — commonly as a fraction or the word “cents.” For example, $1,234.56 becomes:

One thousand two hundred thirty-four dollars and fifty-six cents.

The converter's Currency tab formats this for you automatically.

FAQ

When should I write numbers as words vs. figures?

In prose, small numbers (often under 10 or under 100) are usually spelled out; larger numbers use figures. On cheques and contracts, the words version is written alongside the figures to prevent tampering.

How do I write the cents?

Either as “and fifty-six cents” or as a fraction like 56/100. Both are accepted on cheques.