Spelling Negative Numbers
A minus sign in writing becomes the word negative (formal, mathematical) or minus (casual) in speech.
Rules
- Negative is the formal word, used in math, science, and finance.
- Minus is common in speech and in temperature readings (minus ten degrees).
- Don't use both: negative minus five is wrong.
- Accountants sometimes write negatives in parentheses instead: ($1,450) means negative one thousand four hundred fifty dollars.
Examples
| Input | In words |
|---|---|
| -1 | negative one |
| -5 | negative five |
| -47 | negative forty-seven |
| -100 | negative one hundred |
| -1,000 | negative one thousand |
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. - Writing Numbers on a Check
Step-by-step guide to writing numbers in words on a US bank check, including cents as NN/100, where to place 'and', and real check-writing examples. - 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. - 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.