Hey usage experts: what's with writing "one hundred (100)"?

[Bill McBlueState]

Why, when writing numbers, do people often write the number as words and then write it as digits in parentheses? People know what each one (1) means; so what's the point of writing the same thing twice?

Is this something you're Supposed To Do, or do people just do it out of habit?

[supernova]

1. It's in the sci/math lit

that they do that to be more precise. You always know what the numerals mean, but the words can be confusing. I suppose it's carried over from that.

[mzteris]

2. to make sure that there's

"no mistake".

It's very common in "legalese" and other contractual type documents.

If you make a numerical typo - instead of $10.00 and write $1000 that's a huge diff!

So you write it out to make double-dog-sure that the "numbers" are correct.

[Richardo]

3. This is the correct response.

:thumbsup:

[Bill McBlueState]

4. ok

I hadn't thought about how easy it is to make a typo when you're writing numbers.

Cool.

[Xipe Totec]

5. lol - (101)

101 = one hundred and one

lOl = laugh out loud