Numbers

In mathematics, numbers take precedence, and are fairly obvious in their usage. In writing, the numbers are treated like words, and have many conventions involved in their use.

Missing A Preposition

When using indefinite numbers like “thousands” or “billions” (rather than three thousand, or a hundred billion), the numbers should be followed by “of”.



Incorrect: I have millions things to do today.

Because “millions” is being used as an indefinite number, there should be an “of” after “millions”.



Incorrect: Pollution of the environment has affected the health of billions people.

Because “billions” is being used as an indefinite number, there should be an “of” after “billions”.

Singular And Plural

Large numbers like hundred, thousand, million, billion, etc., are considered singular, and it is the noun which is made plural (e.g. a hundred elephants, or a thousand pennies, etc.) The only time we need to add an “s” to the end of large numbers is when the number of groups is indefinite or undetermined (e.g. Are there hundreds or thousands of grammar rules?)



Incorrect: The local factory cut three hundreds jobs this quarter.

“Three hundreds” should be changed to “three hundred”.



Incorrect: The world’s population has increased by several millions, due to improved medical care.

“Millions” should be changed to “million”, because it refers to a specific number (i.e. several) of “groups of million”.



Correct: In the past year, the company’s financial gain has been in the billions.

Using “billions” in the plural is correct, because the number is indefinite, or undefined.

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