Hi Nancy,

No, there’s no need to use quote marks in this context. Moreover, APA recommends using numerals for cases like this, where the reference is not to a number of something but to the numeral itself. So your example would read: “There were seven doors with the numbers 2 through 8 painted on them.”

Hi Mary Rose,

APA doesn’t specifically recommend straying from the general rule for cases like this, so it would be best to write “eight” and “35” according to their rules.

Chicago style provides more specific guidance that in cases where numbers are used in close proximity, they can all be shown in the same style to read more smoothly. Of course, in Chicago style this problem wouldn’t arise with your specific example anyway, since all numbers below 100 are written as words.

“I am responsible for the safety of eight instructors and 35 students.”

OR

“I am responsible for the safety of 8 instructors and 35 students.”

Hi Andrew,

1) “three” is correct here, since it’s a number lower than 10 and there’s no particular reason to use a numeral.
2) “three-step” is correct here, since it’s a number lower than 10 and “step” isn’t one of the precise measurements where you’d have to use numerals (e.g. “3 cm”).
3) In this case, according to APA Style it should be “3-year study,” because numbers used to express time are always expressed as numerals.

1.) Is the three in” three classes, non-use group, alcohol or marijuana group, and polysubstance use group” supposed to be written in word form or figure form?

2.) Is the three in “three-step process: detoxification, transitional care, and
independent living” supposed to be written in word form or figure form?

3.) Is the three in “After a three-year study” supposed to be written in word form or figure form?

Hi Sam,

Yes, you’re right, numbers used in this way are presented as numerals. APA also recommends capitalizing the noun in these cases, so it would read “Experiment 1”