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Numbers

When writing numbers in Dynatrace content, follow these guidelines for numerals, percentages, fractions, number ranges, phone numbers, measurements, and ordinal numbers. (See Dates and times for writing and formatting dates, times, and date ranges.)

When referencing numbers that appear in code samples or a web UI, copy the numbers exactly as they are written in the UI or code; in all other cases, refer to the guidelines below.

Numbers in sentences​

When writing content that includes numbers:

  • Spell out numbers zero through nine.
  • Use numerals for numbers 10 and greater.
  • Don't begin a sentence with a numeral.
  • Use hyphens when spelling out compound numbers and fractions.
  • For maximum readability, don't place a numeral at the start of a sentence. Either rewrite the sentence, add a modifier, or spell out the number.

✅ The company utilizes two data centers.
✅ There is zero probability of error.
✅ The host group contains 11 hosts.
✅ The launch is in 21 days.
❌ The launch is in twenty-one days.
✅ The company was founded three years ago.
✅ The company has offices in 12 countries.
❌ The company has offices in twelve countries.
✅ More than 10 processes run on the host.
❌ 10 or more processes run on the host.
✅ Twelve processes run on the host.
❌ 12 processes run on the host.

Numbers in titles and headings​

  • While we recommend spelling out numerals for maximum SEO and readability, you may use use numerals in place of spelled-out numbers, including zero through nine, when writing page titles and headings.
  • You may begin a title or heading with a numeral.

✅ 5 top tips for DevOps success
✅ Five top tips for DevOps success
✅ Visit 10 offices in 10 days
✅ Visit ten offices in ten days
✅ Office vacancy rate rises to 30%
✅ 30% office vacancy rate increase in 2023
❌ Office vacancy rate rises to thirty percent

Numbers in lists, labels, and tags​

  • Where space is restricted (for example, in list items, tables, chart values, web UI copy, UI navigation labels, and more) we recommend using numerals in place of spelled out numbers.
  • Any word following a numeral should be displayed in lowercase, unless it's always written in uppercase.

✅ 12 processes
❌ Twelve Processes
✅ 11 hosts
❌ 11 Hosts
✅ 7 hours
❌ 7 Hours
❌ Seven hours
✅ 48 SLOs

Mixed numerals and words​

Some sentences include a mix of words (for example, "twenty-one"), numerals (for example, "21"), and even ordinal numbers (for example, "twenty-first").

  • In instances where two numbers that relate to different things must be combined, spell out one of the numbers and use a numeral for the other.
  • If one item type in a sentence requires a numeral, use numerals consistently for all instances of that item type.

✅ Each server room has 12 four-core machines and 4 two-core machines.
❌ Each server room has 12 four-core machines and 4 2-core machines.
❌ Each server room has 12 four-core machines and four two-core machines.

Numbers in measurements, dimensions, metrics, and currency​

When writing measurements, dimensions, metrics, and currency, use numerals in place of spelled-out numbers. Also see Metric units in Dynatrace Developer.

  • For the following standard units of measure, use numerals rather than spelled-out numbers, even when the value is less than 10 and appears at the beginning of a sentence.

    • CPU memory
    • Dimensions
    • Disk space
    • Distance
    • Pixels
    • Temperature
    • Time
    • Currency amounts
    • Volume
    • Weight

  • Insert a space between a numeral and its unit of measure. For example, say "100 ms," not "100ms". (This rule does not apply to percent signs, currency symbols, or temperatures. It's correct to write "$100," "100%," and "100°F.")

✅ $100
✅ USD100
❌ 100 USD
✅ 8 ft, 3 in.
❌ eight feet, three inches
✅ 3.61 lb
✅ 6.67 grams
✅ 1 centimeter
✅ 1 cm
❌ one centimeter
✅ 8 billion dollars
✅ Today's temperature is 75°F.
✅ Today's temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
❌ Today's temperature is seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit.
✅ Today's temperature is 8 degrees Celcius.
✅ Today's temperature is 8°C.
❌ Today's temperature is eight degrees Celcius.

  • When writing dimensions, spell out the word "by," except when referring to screen resolutions and page dimensions—for these, use the multiplication sign (×) instead.

✅ 1920 × 1080 pixels
❌ 1,920 × 1,080 pixels
❌ 1920 by 1080 pixels
✅ The server room is 25 by 45 feet.
❌ The server room is 25 × 45 feet.
✅ 11 in. × 14 in. paper
❌ 11 in. by 14 in. paper

For complete details about units of measure, see Metric units in Dynatrace Developer.

Round numbers higher than 1 million​

For round numbers of 1 million or higher, use a numeral and the appropriate modifier (million, billion, or trillion).

✅ 8 billion dollars
✅ USD8 billion
✅ $8 billion
✅ $3 million per year
✅ 1 trillion transactions
❌ three million dollars per year
❌ one trillion transactions

Round numbers in currency values​

When working with currency values and restricted space, for example, in a web UI or table data, use the following single-letter abbreviations for thousand, million, billion, and trillion.

  • K - thousand
  • M - million
  • B - billion
  • T - trillion

User-input values​

Always use numerals when instructing the user to enter a numerical value.

✅ Enter 2 in the text field.
❌ Enter two in the text field.

Commas in numbers​

Insert thousands commas into numbers that are four or more digits in length. Don't use periods.

✅ $3,450.00
✅ 2,200 MB
❌ $3.450,00
❌ 2.200 MB

However, don't use thousands commas in street addresses, page numbers, or digits following a decimal point.

✅ 14542 NE 5th Street
✅ Page 1101
✅ 1.03323 cm
❌ 14,542 NE 5th Street
❌ Page 1,101
❌ 1.03,232 cm

For pixels, use commas only when the number has five or more digits.

✅ 1920 × 1080 pixels
❌ 1,920 × 1,080 pixels

Phone numbers​

For phone numbers in the United States and Canada, use hyphens to separate numbers, not periods, parentheses, or spaces. Because we're writing for interntional audiences, always include the North American "1" international call prefix.

✅ 1-212-555-3425
✅ +1-212-555-3425
❌ 212-555-3425
❌ 212.555.3425
❌ 212 555 3425
❌ (212) 555-3425

For regions outside the United States or Canada, refer to the national standards for phone numbers.

Decimals and fractions​

Fractions are best expressed using words or decimals (for example, "three-fourths" or "0.75").

  • Spelled-out fractions should be hyphenated.
  • For decimal fractions less than one, place a zero before the decimal point.
  • For decimal fractions in a table or vertical list, align entries along the decimal point.
  • When spelling out a unit of measurement for a decimal fraction, use the plural form (for example, "0.5 minutes" or "0.2 kilometers"); use the singular form only when the value is 1.
  • Use numerals separated by a forward slash (for example, "3/4") only when a formula occurs in text. Symbols in such formulas (for example, "¾") are okay where available.

✅ Three-fourths of the data is missing.
✅ Approximately two-thirds of the entries have been reviewed.
❌ The work is 3/4 complete.
❌ The work is ¾ complete.
✅ The work effort is estimated at 0.75 days per week.
✅ 0.5 cm (table data)
✅ The tiles are spaced 1 centimeter apart.
✅ The tiles are spaced 0.5 centimeters apart.
❌ The tiles are spaced 0.5 centimeter apart.
❌ The tiles are spaced 0.5 cm apart.

Formulas​

In some instances, it's necessary to use formulas to convey mathematical concepts.

  • Use abbreviations for units of measure in formulas.
  • Use numerals in formulas.
  • Don't mix fraction symbols and decimals in the same formula.

✅ 1 metric data point × 60 min × 24 h × 365 d × 0.001 = 525.6 DDUs per metric/year
✅ (number of GB ingested) × (100.00 DDU weight) = DDUs consumed
✅ Number of GB ingested = DDUs consumed / (100.00 DDU weight)
✅ (number of GB of processed data stored) × (retention period in days) × (0.30 DDU weight) × (number of days that data is stored) = DDUs consumed
✅ 5 (GB data per day) × 1.8 (weighting) = 9 GB
✅ x + 2/3(y) = m
✅ ½ + ½ = 1 (aka "1/1," not "1.0")
✅ 1.0 + 1.0 = 2.0
✅ ¾ + ¾ = 1½
❌ ¾ + ¾ = 1.5
❌ 1.0 + 1.5 = 2½
❌ 3½ + ¾ = 4.25

Ordinal numbers​

  • Spell out ordinal numbers (for example, "fifth" and "forty-first).
  • Don't use ordinal numbers for dates.
  • Don't create adverbs using ordinal numbers (for example, "secondly").

✅ The product is the first of its kind.
✅ Payment is due by the fifteenth day of each month.
✅ Payment is due by June 15.
✅ First, we must address the staffing issue.
✅ Many companies rely on third-party software.
❌ Many companies rely on 3rd-party software.
❌ The product is the 1st of its kind.
❌ Payment is due by the 15th day of the month.
❌ Payment is due by June fifteenth.
❌ Firstly, we must address the staffing issue.

Number ranges​

  • Number ranges are best expressed in content using the words "from" and "through."
  • Where space is limited, for example, in tables or a web UI, use an en dash (–) to indicate a range. En dash symbols are available in MS Word and by typing -- in Markdown. Don't use hyphens for number ranges.

✅ Have a look at pages 3 through 7.
✅ Read from page 345 through page 401.
✅ 2020–2023
✅ See pages 345–401
❌ Have a look at pages 3-7.
❌ Read from page 3–7.
❌ Read pages three through seven.

Percentages​

  • Use numerals for percentages, except at the beginning of sentences.
  • It's generally best to spell out the word "percent" preceded by a numeral and a space (for example, "50 percent").
  • It's best to use a numeral and a percent sign (%) where space is limited, such as in tables or a web UI. Note that there's no space between the numeral and the percent sign (for example, "50%").
  • Use "percentage" (rather than "percent") when the quantity or value isn't stated.

✅ We need to complete 75 percent of the work.
✅ We need to complete a large percentage of the work.
✅ We achieved 50 percent saturation.
✅ Forty-four percent of office space is vacant.
✅ 50% saturation (table data)
❌ We need to complete 75% of the work.
❌ We need to complete a large percent of the work.
❌ We need to complete a large % of the work.