Page numbers are usually written in Arabic numerals, but in prefatory material they may be written as lower-case Roman numerals:
- page vii of the Foreword
- page 7 of the Introduction
Within the body of the text, volume numbers may be indicated by Arabic or Roman numerals or be spelled out.
- Volume 4
- Volume IV
- Volume Four
Numbers of chapters and other major divisions of a book may be spelled out, but are more often written in Roman or Arabic numerals—the tendency being away from Roman numerals in the case of both chapter and volume numbers.
- Chapter Two
- Chapter 2 (or Chapter II)
Verse numbers and those of minor divisions of a book are written as Arabic numerals:
- I Kings 9:1–4
- Volume 18, Section 8
Paragraphs may be numbered 1, 2, etc.; clauses within paragraphs, 1), 2), etc. Groups of paragraphs may be numbered with Roman numerals.
In citations from legislation and the like, numbers and letters designating parts of a section should be enclosed in parentheses, with no space between them:
- subparagraph 123(4)(b)(ii)
Copyright notice for Writing Tips Plus
© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
A tool created and made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada
Search by related themes
Want to learn more about a theme discussed on this page? Click on a link below to see all the pages on the Language Portal of Canada that relate to the theme you selected. The search results will be displayed in Language Navigator.
Related links
- Writing Tips Plus (home page)
- Writing tools
- Language Navigator (for fast access to language tips)
- TERMIUM Plus®