CONTENTS FEATURE: Figure the right way to express numerals SPOTLIGHT: EditPros clients in the news WELCOME: The newest EditPros client NET NOTES: Captivating web sites FEATURE: How to figure the right way to express numerals in writing      Many "touch-typing" virtuosos who churn out text at 70 words per minute or more revert to the two-finger method and must look at the keyboard in order to type numerals. Some sophisticated writers likewise stumble in weaving numerical references into their text. They're uncertain under varying circumstance whether to use numerals or spell numbers out, when to use Arabic or Roman numerals, or how to distinguish between cardinal and ordinal numbers.      Style guides and dictionaries vary in their recommendations, but the most logical guiding principle for any writer ought to be clarity for the reader. That's the basis for the style that most newspapers use, and it makes sense as well for business correspondence, reports and marketing materials. In general, newspapers spell out single-digit numbers, and use numerals for numbers consisting of two or more digits. Thus, newspapers would refer to "three trucks," or to "23 trucks."      Some numerical values should always be expressed as numerals—notably, ages, percentages, time of day, dates, street addresses, political precinct numbers, temperatures, publication page numbers, sports scores, identification numbers (such as Interstate 80, flight 5, channel 6, Boeing 727), military regiment identifications, and measurements of physical dimensions, weights and volume.      While the numerical symbols most commonly used in English are Arabic figures (0,1,2,3 and on through 9), certain types of numbers are shown in Roman numerals (which are expressed using the letters I, V, X, L, C, D and M). World Wars, some motion picture dating, and sequential numbering of the names of individuals, including royalty and popes, make use of Roman numerals.      With percentages, spell out "percent" (as a single word) in text, but use of the percent symbol (%) is acceptable in tabular material.      For specific dates, insert a comma between the date and the year to separate the two numerals (as in Feb. 1, 2002), but a comma is unnecessary when simply indicating a month and a year (as in February 2002).      Some people appear compelled to invent new styles, even if they don't improve upon existing conventions. Telephone numbers serve as a good example. A misguided desire to appear stylish has driven people to needlessly improvise ways to separate the digits of phone numbers by playing with punctuation, typically in any of three irregular styles: 530/759-2000 530.759.2000 530-759-2000 The first example is improper because the virgule or "slash mark" is intended to separate alternatives, as in "either/or." Nor do decimal points have any place in a sequence of phone digits. The second and third examples are both unacceptable because they fail to adequately distinguish the area code numbers from the prefix. The prevailing standard of (530) 759-2000 is best, because the hyphen clearly separates the two clusters of local numbers, and the parentheses unmistakably set off the area code. Placement of a "1" before the area code is unnecessary, because people already know they need to first dial that access code for long-distance numbers.      Avoid beginning a sentence with a numeral; either express the number as a word, or rewrite the sentence so it begins with another word. Instead of "119 years passed before the artifacts were unearthed," try "The artifacts remained there until they were unearthed 119 years later."      The distinction between cardinal and ordinal numbers is simple. Cardinal numbers are simply the numeral values, such as two or 57, indicating quantity. Ordinal numbers designate order or rank in a series of numbers, such as First Avenue or 57th Street. The same rules for determining whether to use numerals or words generally apply to ordinal and cardinal numbers.      Now when using numbers in text, you can count yourself among the informed. SPOTLIGHT: EditPros clients in the news Sacramento print and design agency wins prestigious awards and begins new year as a 'Citadel' of excellence      Citadel Press/Neo Design, a Sacramento-based printing and graphic design firm founded in 1965 by Louis Franzi and now owned by his daughter Loretta Franzi, collected 11 awards at a ceremony held on Jan. 12. The Sacramento Printers Association, which represents the $14 billion printing industries of California, presented the prizes, which included seven gold, three silver and a bronze award for outstanding design and printing excellence. A few days later, Neo Design scooped up another win—the contract to produce a new identity package for the United States Handball Association.      On Jan. 29, Citadel Press/Neo Design—an EditPros client—hosted a successful news conference for former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan, a candidate for governor of California. During the conference, attended by Assemblyman Anthony Pescetti and numerous printing industry representatives, Riordan discussed a new mandate by the California Department of General Services that requires all state agencies to funnel all of their printing needs through the Office of State Publishing. Citadel Press officials believe that restriction will vastly increase the amount that state agencies spend on printing, and will cost the California commercial printing industry millions of dollars per year in lost contracts. We proudly welcome the newest EditPros client UC Genetic Resources Conservation Program Davis, Calif. (530) 754-8501 Web: http://www.grcp.ucdavis.edu The University of California's Genetic Resources Conservation Program (GRCP), based in Davis, Calif., supports conservation of native flora and fauna, collections of germplasm amassed for agricultural, medicinal, and industrial uses, and collections of genetic stocks, tissues, cells, and DNA developed for teaching and research purposes. The University's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources established GRCP in 1985 in response to a request from the State of California. GRCP organizes and supports training in genetic resources conservation; presents symposia and conferences; and publishes symposia and conference proceedings, reports from task forces, and descriptions of major collections. GRCP operates a grant program that offers funding to support conservation of imperiled collections of genetic resources and genetic stocks critical to California. The grants are funded through the program's general budget from the State of California. Net Notes: Captivating Internet resources TypeRight http://www.typeright.org/links.html      How were the fonts that came installed on your computer chosen? Who designed them? Who actually owns them? What are the ethics and your legal liabilities in connection with fonts you imbed in documents and distribute via the Internet? These and many more legal and ethical questions involving intellectual property considerations of computer typography are examined on this informational Web site, operated by TypeRight, an advocacy organization of type foundries and designers. Planet Typography http://www.planet-typography.com/      Planet Typography is described as a "portal entirely dedicated to the art and the science of typography." In addition to a newsletter, a "virtual museum" of typography and a menu of fonts you may download, you'll also find a tutorial about the basics of typography. Font Source Paradise http://www.desktopPublishing.com/fonts.html      This site is dedicated to typographic-related links, including a directory of commercial foundries and specialty type utilities, such as handwriting fonts. YOUR TURN: Ask the "grammar coach" or subscribe      We invite you to submit your questions to the "grammar coach," and we welcome you to subscribe to this monthly newsletter—which we'll send to your e-mail address at no charge. We respond to all "grammar coach" questions personally, but delays may occur because we must place top priority on assignments from our clients. We appreciate your patience and your interest.      You also can change your e-mail subscription address. For an address change, please indicate your existing AND your new e-mail address. Thank you. 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