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# Is it “Mambo №5” or “Mambo No. Five”?
- URL: https://justincox.com/blog/2018/10/is-it-mambo--e2-84-965-or-mambo-no-five/
- Published: 2018-10-02T10:56:01.000Z
- Updated: 2023-06-17T00:37:39.000Z
- Description: Working with Numbers
- Author: Justin Cox
- Tags: Craft, Culture, #music

> One, two, three, four, five… Everybody in the car so come on let’s ride. -Mambo №5

These are the familiar lyrics to Lou Bega’s version of **Mambo №5*, released in 1999\. While the song may be catchy, the title doesn’t fit the grammar rule for writing numbers.

On the surface, writing with numbers is a simple rule: **write out numbers between zero and nine*. However — as it is with all grammar — as you dig, the layers get complicated.

## The Simple Rule

The AP Stylebook refers to numbers as “figures”. Their base rule is to write out figures between zero and nine.

- I ate four of the 12 donuts for breakfast.
- She owns two houses.
- There is zero chance I finish this story.

## The Exceptions

There are many exceptions to the AP’s simple rule. The exceptions depend on usage of the figure and the context of the sentence.

****Addresses**

Ignore the Simple Rule and use figures when writing addresses. Only spell out the full word when referring to numeric street names nine/ninth and under.

- She owns 3 Maple Street.
- I live at 456 Ninth Avenue.
- He wants to buy the property at 789 18th Street.

****Ages**

When referring to ages, ignore the simple rule and use figures.

- The 7-year-old boy has a cousin who is 8 years old.

The only exception with ages comes when the figure begins a new sentence.

- Twenty-somethings are giving 30-somethings a run for their money in this economy.

****Beginning a Sentence**

Spell out figures that begin a sentence, regardless of the number.

- Four people ate 4 donuts at the counter.

****Common Phrases**

Spell out figures when using common phrases.

- She said to him, “one bird in hand is worth two in the bush” despite not understanding what it meant.

****Dates**

Use figures when writing dates unless referring to centuries nine and under.

- What comparisons can be drawn between 80s popular culture and that of the first century?

****Decimals**

Use numeric figures for decimals, fractions, and percentages greater than one. Write out the figures for anything less than one.

- We ate two-thirds of the donuts and before running 1.5 miles.

****Money**

When referring to any denomination of money, ignore the simple rule and use figures.

- She wrote a check for $2.37\. Who does that?

****Vessel Names**

Ship names ignore the simple rule. Always use numeric figures when referring to the names of ships. The only exception is “Air Force One”.

- Apollo 1 never left the launch pad and almost ended the space program while Apollo 11 changed the world forever.

While **Mambo №5* might be a catchy song, its name doesn’t comply with the AP rule regarding figures. Maybe someone will remix the song with the proper title: **Mambo No. Five*.

*A version of this article first appeared on [ProWritingAid](https://prowritingaid.com/art/738/is-it-%e2%80%9cmambo-no--5%e2%80%9d-or-%e2%80%9cmambo-no--five%e2%80%9d.aspx?ref=justincox.com).*