Numeral 1

[sarawilcox]

Earlier this year, we agreed the following: We use numerals for all numbers (including 1 to 2).

In some cases, using 1 is causing confusion. For example in the draft forms guidance:

"Many forms do not need a declaration or signature. Before you include one, find out what your users expect and understand by it." "Include a reference number, if there is one". "I do not have one" versus "I do not have 1" (which suggests there might be more than 1).

[sarawilcox]

@sineadgalvin Did you have some examples of this? I'm wondering whether we should bring this back to Style Council.

[JackMatthams]

Following the December content style council, we agreed to alter and add in the following guidance about the use of numbers, and that content designers should attempt to avoid any issues of using numbers by rephrasing and clarifying:

Numerals (1, 2, 3 and so on) We use numerals for numbers (including 1 and 2), for example when we’re talking about statistics, time, measurements, lists, points or steps. People find numerals easier to read and they scan for them.

Examples of where we use numerals

• Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey.

• Do this for 1 or 2 minutes.

• It takes 1 to 3 weeks from the time you were exposed to chickenpox for the spots to start appearing.

• Depression affects about 1 in 10 people at some point during their life.

Examples of where we do not use numerals

We do not use numerals in some medicines information about dosage [link to paragraph on dosage] because we've found they can be confusing. We spell out "one" when it means "a" or to avoid repeating a word.
Example: "Never take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten one." We also use "one" in phrases like:

• "one or the other"

• "one of the most common"

• "one at a time"

[sarawilcox]

Guidance in content style guide updated: https://service-manual.nhs.uk/content/numbers-measurements-dates-time

[albfreeman]

I've seen a few examples recently of the numeral 1 being used where I think the word one might be easier to read and understand:

"Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects your moods, which can swing from 1 extreme to another."

"Use 1 hand to rub the back of the other hand and clean in between the fingers." (How to wash your hands)

"a small hole is made in the wall of 1 of the cavities of the brain, releasing trapped fluid." (Chiari malformation)

It's possible that the current guidance in the service manual is sufficient and that each of those sentences would not include the numeral 1 if they were reviewed now. But I wonder whether it might be useful to make an addition to the service manual to help people think about when 1 should not be used. For example, we could say "do not use 1 if the same sentence would not also make sense with a different number".