I was reading an application for a grant program at our local library recently when I encountered a series of phrases that were couched in terminology that just set me afire with curiosity.
The author, who is a colleague of mine, had put Arabic numerals in parentheses after each mention of a number. For example:
The application shall be completed in three (3) parts, and with three (3) copies to be turned in by June 30, 2012.
I have always been irritated by this style of writing because it seems so insulting. Does the author think I’m stupid? Or do they think that I don’t know my numbers?
Where does this come from? Why do people (people) do this (this)?
I looked it up on Wikipedia, and I searched around the Interwebs a bit to find the source of the style, and it seems to be based in legal terminology, though even that seems specious. There is no law that says that you have to put numbers (numbers) in parentheses, nor is there any law that says that you have to assume that people don’t know their numbers.
Curiously, there is legal precedent that defines which of two entries of a number – the written-out version or the numerical version – is considered the valid one in the event that the two don’t agree (as when written on a check). The answer is that the written-out version is the one that banks accept as the correct version, and not the numeric entry. So, if the written version is the legal version, then we don’t even need the numerical version.
So, why do people do this? I don’t have any idea (idea).
Are these the same people who think that the word “paradigm” is a useful word, or those who use “myself” when they mean “me”?
I say it’s dumb (dumb), and it’s time to stop doing it (it). Because it’s really insulting (insulting) and we don’t need numbers (numbers) in parentheses. Ever (ever).
Here’s a suggestion: if you are tempted to put numbers in parentheses after putting them in words, just don’t do it. Instead, use the Chicago Manual of Style technique. Numbers from one to ten should be written-out as words. From eleven onward, put them as Arabic numerals. That’s simple, and it makes written numbers easier to read.
Thank you (you) for reading my blog (blog).
Yep, it’s annoying, but your colleague isn’t necessarily the guilty party. It’s very possible that the grant program told him “that’s how we do it, in case we get audited/we get sued/somebody files late, or forgets to put the original in with the copies, or forgets to fill out all three parts . . .”.
It’s a hedge against failure modes, man. Bummer. (not my usual lingo)
I stumbled across your blog (short for web-log—why don’t we spell it “’blog”?) from the link Jennifer Bell at ProSoft put up. Congrats on recovering those images.
ECS
I know you wrote this a while ago, but you have absolutely nailed how I feel about my new boss. She writes all her numbers twice (2). Nuts (nuts) nuts).
And I bet she would totally use “paradigm.”
And she keeps using “comprise of” and we don’t even work in real estate!
Thanks for the vent.