Translating numbers

English translation: use numbers, not words

00:20 Oct 29, 2020
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Law (general) / Translating numbers
Spanish term or phrase: Translating numbers
If an Identification number is written out in Spanish, and in letter form, do I translate the number in world form or number form when translating into English?

Example: numero de identificación numero tres dos uno guion nueve nueve cuatro guion trece.

Written in a Guatemalan Notarized Document
Betsy Cruz
United States
English translation:use numbers, not words
Explanation:
Opinions clearly differ on this - see the discussion entries. But I believe using words looks silly in English, and you should change them in the same way as you would substitute commas for full stops in numbers, and turn long, convoluted sentences into shorter ones.

Legal documents should be translated closely and accurately, but not slavishly.
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2use numbers, not words
philgoddard


Discussion entries: 9





  

Answers


15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
use numbers, not words


Explanation:
Opinions clearly differ on this - see the discussion entries. But I believe using words looks silly in English, and you should change them in the same way as you would substitute commas for full stops in numbers, and turn long, convoluted sentences into shorter ones.

Legal documents should be translated closely and accurately, but not slavishly.

philgoddard
United States
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 864
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  AllegroTrans: If you see "27/10/2020" in an English legal document you are translating into Spanish. do you write out the date in words? According to your logic, yes// I meant in Spanish of course...
1 hr
  -> I don't understand the point you're making. According to your logic, the translation would be twenty-seven-ten-twenty-twenty :-)

agree  John Rynne
2 hrs
  -> Thanks!

agree  Christian [email protected]: and... use numbers if "billions" are involved.
1 day 2 hrs
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