实际上,以英语为母语的*,在书写数字时已形成几条约定俗成的规则,现总结如下供读者参考。
一. 英美等国的出版社在排版时遵循一条原则,即1至10用单词表示,10以上的数目用阿拉伯数字(也有的以100为界限),这条原则值得我们行文时借鉴。
Eg. That table measures ten feet by five.
那个工作台长10英尺,宽5英尺。
Eg. The traditional pattern of classroom experience at the college level brings the professor and a group of 20 to 30 students together for a 45-to-50-minute class session two or three times a week.
由一个教授和十名学生每周会晤两三次,每次授课时间45到50分钟,是*程度课堂教学的传统方式。
二. 人数用阿技伯数字表示显得更简洁明了,但不定数量、近似值用单词表示较恰当。
Eg. There are 203817 voters on the electoral rolls.
选举名单上有203817个投票人。
Eg. Nearly thirty thousand voters took part in this election.
近3万个投票人参加了这次选举。
三. 遇到日期、百分比、带单位的特殊数字,通常用阿拉伯数字。
Eg. Maximum swivel of table is l20.
工作台的*回转角度是120度。
Eg. 3rd March l991或3 March l991;
a discount of 5 percent(5%的折扣);
Eg. purchased 7 yards of carpet(买7码地毯);
Eg. ordered 2 pounds of minced steak(订购2磅剁碎的肉)。
如果涉及的数目和单位是不定数,可用单词表示。
Eg. about five miles per hour(每小时大约5英里)
Eg. at least ten yards away(至少有10码远)
Eg. hesitated for a moment or two(犹豫了片刻)
Eg. I have warned you a hundred times(我已经警告你多少遍了)。
四. 在科技文章中,数字频繁出现,用阿拉伯数字比用单词陈述更有利。
Eg. The new engine has a capacity of 4.3 litres and a power out-put of 153 kilowatts at 4400 revolutions per minute.
这台新发动机的容积为4.3升,转速为每分钟4400转时输出功率是153千瓦。
Eg. We know that the weight of a cubic foot of air at 0oC and 76cm,pressure is 0.08l pound, or 12 cubic feet of air weigh a pound.
我们知道,1立方英尺的空气在0摄氏度和760毫米汞柱压力下,重量是0.81磅,也就是说12立方英尺空气的重量是1磅。
五. 句首不用阿拉伯数字,句末要尽量避免用阿拉伯数字。
Eg. 4th July is an important date in American history.
应该写成The fourth of July...
Eg. 19 couples took part in the ballroom dancing competition.
19对选手参加了交际舞比赛。
应改写成:Nineteen couples took...
Eg. 60%profit was a reported.
据报道有60%的利润。
应改写成:Sixty per cent profit…
Eg. 1345 kilograms force was applied at the center point of the bar.
试验时在杆的中点加1345公斤力。
可改成When tested, a force of l345 kg was applied...
六. 遇到分数,可用带连字符号的单词表示。
Eg. At 1east two-thirds of the class have had colds.
这个班至少有三分之二的学生患重感冒。
Eg. Nitrogen forms about four-fifths of the atmosphere.
氮约占大气的五分之四。