Numbers and mathematics - Graduate Writing Center
Numbers and Mathematics
Numbers
Do you have twenty questions about how to format numbers—or 20?
It depends: the various disciplines and style guides have different norms for incorporating numbers into your text, so we've assembled a series of infographics, linked below, to give you an overview of how some of the major styles treat numbers. These documents provide useful rules of thumb; consult with your advisor or professor if you have questions about particular points of numerical usage:
For more information on how to effectively employ numbers in your text, see our resources on displaying data, as well as the links below.
Mathematical Expressions
There are ∛8 main ways to incorporate mathematics into your text: you can either place it in-line, surrounded by text, or you can place it on its own line—as a display equation.
How to choose between the two? And what’s the proper way to punctuate those display equations (and there is, of course, a proper way)? Our resources will guide your calculations and lead you to the correct answer:
- GWC video tutorial (4:22): “Clarity – Math Expressions”
- GWC infographic: “How to Punctuate Display Equations”
For more information on how to Fermat—sorry, format—the math in your document, check out the links.
More on Numbers and Mathematics in Writing
Web Pages
- "Writing Numbers, Units of Measure, and Equations," Gary Blake and Robert W. Bly
- "PowerPoint Does Rocket Science and Better Techniques for Technical Reports," Edward Tufte, Graphics Press
Articles
- "Guidelines for Equations, Units, and Mathematical Notation," Louisiana Tech
- "Mathematical Writing: A Brief Guide," Mark Tomforde
- "A Guide to Writing Mathematics," Dr. Kevin P. Lee
Books
- Writing Math Research Papers: A Guide for Students and Instructors, Robert K. Gerver, Information Age Publishing
- Handbook of Writing for the Mathematical Sciences, 2nd ed., Nicholas Higham, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
- Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Mastering the Art of Problem Solving, Jonathan Koomey, Analytics Press
- What the Numbers Say: A Field Guide to Mastering Our Numerical World, Derrick Neiderman and David Boyum, Broadway Books
All-Topics Index
The following index makes searching for a specific topic easier and links to the most relevant page for each item. We think we have all of them, but please email us at writingcenter@nps.edu if we're missing something!
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