Clarity and Formality
Writing out numbers as words adds a layer of formality and clarity to documents. It's a standard practice in legal and financial writing to prevent misinterpretation of numerical figures.
Preventing Fraud and Errors
On checks and other financial instruments, writing the amount in words makes it much harder to alter the numerical value, thus preventing fraud. It also serves as a verification of the amount.
Common Use Cases
- Writing Checks: The legal line on a check requires the amount to be written in words.
- Legal Documents: Contracts and agreements often specify important numbers in both figures and words.
- Formal Writing: In formal reports and academic papers, it's often conventional to write out smaller numbers.