How to write dollar amounts on checks, using both numerals and words, in English
How to write dollar amounts on checks, both as numbers (using digits) and in words, in (US) American English?
- For start let's work with an even amount, without cents. Let's say we have to write a check for $1,567 (US Dollars, USD).
First, write the amount of $1,567 on the check, numerically, in the amount box.
- This box has a $ sign to the left. Write your number in digits: 1,567.00
- Notice the decimal point that separates dollars and cents; you have zero cents so you write .00
- Draw a horizontal line after the amount 1,567.00, that runs from the right of the amount up to the end of the blank space. This is to prevent other people from changing / adding to your amount.
How to write the number 1,567 in words, on the check?
- We need to know the place value of each digit of the number 1,567.
- 1,567 has a 1 in the thousands place, a 5 in the hundreds place, a 6 in the tens place and a 7 in the ones place.
- 1,567 in words is:
- = one thousands (1,000) + five hundreds (500) + six tens (60) + seven ones (7)
- = one thousand + five hundred + sixty + seven
- = one thousand five hundred sixty-seven.
Write the amount of $1,567 USD in words, on the check.
- Write $1,567 Dollar in words on the line which has the currency type written at the end of it (dollars):
- one thousand five hundred sixty-seven and 00/100 (the word "dollars" is already printed).
- Notice the fraction 00/100; when you have zero cents you write after the dollar amount: and 00/100.
- Again, draw a horizontal line after the "00/100" fraction, that runs to the end of the blank space. This is to prevent people from changing / adding to your amount.
Notes:
- 1: Note the hyphen (or the minus sign) in "sixty-seven" above. Technically, it's correct to hyphenate compound numbers between twenty-one, 21, and ninety-nine, 99.
- 2: Placement of word "and": in American English do not use the word "and" after "hundred", "thousand" or "million". So, it is "one million two hundred thirty-four thousand five hundred sixty-seven" and not "one million and two hundred thirty-four thousand and five hundred and sixty-seven", though you may hear a lot of people using the last form, informally.
- 3: The Federal Reserve will not accept checks that are larger than $99,999,999.00 and agencies have been directed to return these checks to the originator. Beginning January 1, 2016. Check-processing equipment at the nation's Federal Reserve banks can't handle checks that big. Checks of more than $99,999,999.00 have to be processed by hand, increasing the risk of theft, fraud and errors, according to the IRS and the Treasury Department.