Writing Numbers on a Check
A US check has two amount fields: the numeric box on the right (e.g. $1,450.27) and the words line below the payee. Both must match. Here's how to fill out the words line correctly.
Rules
- Start at the far left of the words line — don't leave blank space in front (someone could alter the amount).
- Spell the whole dollars in words.
- Use the word and to separate dollars from cents.
- Write cents as NN/100. If the amount is a round dollar, write 00/100 or xx/100.
- Draw a line from the end of your amount to the end of the line so nothing can be added after it.
- Make the words match the numeric box exactly — if they don't, most banks will honor the words, not the numbers.
Examples
| Input | In words |
|---|---|
| 1 | One and 00/100 |
| 47 | Forty-seven and 00/100 |
| 100 | One hundred and 00/100 |
| 1,450 | One thousand four hundred fifty and 00/100 |
| 1,234 | One thousand two hundred thirty-four and 00/100 |
See also
- Spelling Money Amounts
Learn how to write dollar and cent amounts in words for US checks, contracts, and legal documents — with rules for 'and 00/100 dollars' and examples from $1 to $1,000,000. - Ordinal Numbers
Complete guide to spelling ordinal numbers from 1st (first) to 100th (one hundredth), including irregulars like fifth, eighth, ninth, twelfth, and twentieth. - Writing Dates in Words
How to write dates and years like 'April 23, 2026' or 'July 4, 1776' in full English words for wedding invitations, diplomas, and legal contracts. - Saying Phone Numbers in Words
Learn how to pronounce and spell out US phone numbers, area codes, and toll-free 1-800 numbers digit by digit in English. - Spelling Fractions
Learn how to spell fractions in English words by combining a cardinal numerator with an ordinal denominator — plus when to hyphenate fractions. - Spelling Decimal Numbers
How to read and write decimal numbers like 3.14, 0.5, and 0.005 in English words — both digit-by-digit after 'point' and by tenths/hundredths. - Spelling Negative Numbers
Learn how to write and pronounce negative numbers like -1, -47, and -100 in English using 'negative' for math/finance and 'minus' for temperatures. - Million, Billion, Trillion, and Beyond
Learn the short-scale names and spellings for large numbers in English — million, billion, trillion, quadrillion, quintillion, and how to chunk 3-digit groups.