07. Dates, numbers and symbols

Dates

• write the day as a number and the month in letters - e.g. 12 May
• use all 4 digits for the year - e.g. 2020 (not '20)
• don't use commas - e.g. 14 July 1999 (not 14 July, 1999)
• don't use 'the' before the date. Don't use letters (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th)
• example: on 9 October 2019  (not "on the 9th of October 2019")

Date ranges

Separate dates with either prepositions or dashes but don't mix them.

• from 1990 to 1995, not from 1990- 95
• between 1990 and 1995, not between 1990 - 95
• the 2007-08 report is available online

For date ranges where you indicate the year only, use a short dash with no spaces.

• 1996 - 2006

If the years are in the same century, don't repeat the century.

• 1939- 45 

For date ranges where you indicate more than just the year, use a short dash with a space on either side of the dash.

• 2 - 5 March 2014
• 25 December 2011 - 30 January 2012

Time

• use the 24 hour clock
• include the time zone (only once per date range)
• separate hours and minutes with a decimal point (not colon)
• 09.00 (CET)
• 23.59 (EST)
• 17 March 2019, 9.00 - 18 March 2019, 18.00 (CET)

Numbers

In most cases don't write numbers out, use numerals (1, 2, 3) which are easier to read onscreen.

However, avoid 2 numerals next to each other: 8 one‑day sessions, not 8 1-day sessions.

Decimals

In English, Irish and Maltese, a point is used to separate whole numbers from decimals:

• 9.7 billion people
• 2.3 million light years

A comma is used for the same purpose in all other languages and in multilingual texts:

• 9,7 milliards
• 2,3 millions d'années lumière

Thousands

A ‘non-breaking’ space is used to indicate thousands in whole numbers (not a comma). Decimals are grouped in a single block:

• 152 231.324567

Fractions 

Avoid using fractions. Decimals are easier to read and understand onscreen.

• Duration of visit: 2.5 hours (NOT 2½ hours)

Numbers greater than 1 million

For readability, use the words million, billion and trillion rather than a series of 000's

• The Commission has committed €2.5 billion to the initiative
• The world economy has grown 470.1 trillion % since 2001

Billion means a thousand million (not a million million) Trillion means a million million.

In general do not abbreviate million and billion. However to avoid excessive repetition (for example in tables) they can be abbreviated to 'm' and 'bn' respectively. Use a space after the digits.

Recommendations for rounding large numbers

• if we don't need the highest level of accuracy, we can use rounding e.g. €60 million dedicated to language training for migrants, not €60,250,005 dedicated…

• use only the number of digits that are necessary and make sense for clear communication

• a disclaimer should be added, when applicable, at the beginning or end of the publication describing the rounding policy and the reasons for possible inconsistencies - e.g. Figures have been rounded to one decimal place for the sake of brevity

Telephone numbers

Write the full number including the international code. Use + instead of 00. Separate the regional prefix from the main number.

If the number does not send the caller to a specific department within the Commission, add Commission switchboard in brackets.

Example:

+32 2 299 11 11 (Commission switchboard)

Symbols

Do not use spaces between symbols and figures.

Avoid using the ampersand (&) - use 'and' instead.

Use the following symbols

• currency symbols: €150 (EUR, GBP can also be used but the symbol is better)
• percentage: 5%
• temperature: 37°C

Do not use a space between the numbers and the symbol.

Contact and support

If you require further assistance, please contact:

Comm Europa Management

European Commission
DG Communication 
Unit B.3 
Europa Web Communication