Normally, for numbers used in compound adjectives, write out those from one to nine, and use numerals for the rest:
- seven-hour day
- two-metre-wide entrance
- a 10-year-old boy
Number with an abbreviation or symbol
If the unit is represented by an abbreviation, use numerals.
- a 5-lb. bag of flour
- two 6-ft. lengths of timber
Do not use a hyphen between a numeral and a non-letter symbol or between a numeral and a metric unit symbol:
- a 90° angle
- four 100 °C thermometers
- a 2.36 m high jump
- three 5 L containers
For more information, see abbreviations: International System of Units (SI).
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