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Utilities & Converters
Number to Words Converter
Numbers to written words and back, with cheque format.
What it does. Writing 1234 as "one thousand two hundred and thirty-four" follows rules that differ by region. British English includes "and" before the tens; American English usually omits it. Cheques use a distinct format again, with the currency named and the fractional part written as a fraction over 100.
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How to use Number to Words Converter
- Type a number or a phrase.
- Choose the style — plain, cheque, ordinal or currency.
- Copy the result.
The and, and other regional differences
British English: "one hundred and five". American English: "one hundred five". Both are correct in their own register, and a document mixing them looks careless.
The difference matters most on cheques and legal documents, where the written amount is the authoritative one.
Hyphens follow a rule most people apply inconsistently: compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine are hyphenated, and nothing else is. "Thirty-four thousand five hundred and sixty-two" has exactly two hyphens.
The short and long scales
| Number | Short scale | Long scale |
|---|---|---|
| 10⁹ | Billion | Milliard |
| 10¹² | Trillion | Billion |
| 10¹⁵ | Quadrillion | Billiard |
| 10¹⁸ | Quintillion | Trillion |
English now uses the short scale almost universally, including in Britain, which switched officially in 1974. Several European languages use the long scale, so a "billion" in a translated document may be a thousand times larger than expected — a genuine source of error in financial translation.
Cheque format
A cheque amount is written differently from ordinary prose: the currency is named, the pence or cents are given as a fraction over 100, and the line is closed to prevent additions.
£1,234.56 is written "One thousand two hundred and thirty-four pounds and 56/100" followed by "only" or a drawn line.
The written amount legally prevails over the figures if the two disagree, which is the entire reason for the convention. It is also why the line must be closed — an open line can have words added to it.
Frequently asked questions
Should I write "one hundred and five" or "one hundred five"?
British English includes the "and", American English usually omits it. Both are correct in their own register; mixing them in one document looks careless.
When are number words hyphenated?
Compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine, and nothing else. "Thirty-four thousand five hundred and sixty-two" has exactly two hyphens.
How do I write an amount on a cheque?
Name the currency and write the fractional part as a fraction over 100 — "One thousand two hundred and thirty-four pounds and 56/100" — then close the line so nothing can be added.
Why does the written amount matter on a cheque?
Because it legally prevails over the figures if the two disagree. That is also why the line is closed: an open one can have words added.
Is a billion always a thousand million?
In English, yes — the short scale is now universal, and Britain switched officially in 1974. Several European languages use the long scale, where a billion is a million million.