Introduction Understanding the Basics of Writing US Dollar Amounts
Converting US dollar amounts into written words is essential for various purposes, including financial documents, legal contracts, and everyday communication. This guide provides a straightforward approach to accurately writing out dollar amounts in American English, covering both whole dollar amounts and those including cents.
The following sections will break down the process step-by-step, offering clear examples to help you master this important skill. We'll cover the place value of each digit, proper use of hyphens, and differences between American and British English conventions to ensure accuracy.
Whole Writing Dollar Amounts
To write whole dollar amounts, begin by identifying the place value of each digit. For instance, in the amount of $1,234,567.00, the '1' represents millions, '2' represents hundred thousands, '3' represents ten thousands, and so on.
Break down the amount into its component parts, then combine them using the appropriate words. For example: $1,234,567 is written as 'one million two hundred thirty-four thousand five hundred sixty-seven dollars'.
Cents Writing Amounts with
When dealing with amounts that include cents (e.g., $1,234.56), start with the dollar amount, followed by the word 'and', then the cent amount. For example, $1,234.56 is written as 'one thousand two hundred thirty-four dollars and fifty-six cents'.
Ensure that the cent amount is always expressed as a two-digit number (e.g., fifty-six cents, not fifty-six).
Hyphens Proper Usage of
Use hyphens in compound numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine (e.g., twenty-one, thirty-four, eighty-nine).
For example: $21.00 is written as 'twenty-one dollars', $1,234.56 is written as 'one thousand two hundred thirty-four dollars and fifty-six cents'.
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American English Conventions: "And" Placement
In American English, do not use the word "and" after 'hundred', 'thousand', or 'million'. For example, write 'one million two hundred thirty-four thousand five hundred sixty-seven dollars', not 'one million and two hundred thirty-four thousand and five hundred and sixty-seven dollars'.
The word 'and' is used before the cents portion of the dollar amount.
British Comparison to English
In British English, the word 'and' is often included after 'hundred', 'thousand', or 'million'. This is a key difference to keep in mind. For example, a British English speaker might say, 'one million and two hundred and thirty-four thousand and five hundred and sixty-seven pounds'.