Numbers There is no hard rule but normally integers zero through ten are spelled out in the text; other numbers, including fractions, are written as digits, except that all numbers at the beginning of a sentence are written out. Try to rearrange the sentence to avoid large numbers at the beginning. Two hundred and twenty seven varves make up the deposit becomes The deposit consists of 227 varves. Normally, express fractions as decimals (0.25 not ¼). Always put a 0 (zero) in front of decimal fractions.