It can be tough for readers, viewers and listeners to keep track of numbers in your story, whether it’s coverage of the Powerball frenzy or a routine City Hall meeting. These guidelines will help you reduce number clutter, increase the readability of your news report and help your audience better understand your story.
Avoid ‘Number Soup.’ Use no more than two or three numbers in a single paragraph; dates, times and spelled-out numbers (e.g., “one”) count.
Spread out the numbers. Have no more than one or two paragraphs in a row containing numbers.
Round off numbers. Avoid fractions, decimals and other hard-to-understand numbers when you can round off without sacrificing accuracy.
Present numbers graphically. Numbers belong in graphics, including charts, tables and bulleted lists in break-out boxes.
Taken from Math for Journalists: Help with Numbers, a self-directed course by Debbie Wolfe at Poynter NewsU.
