Writing mechanics
Numbers
Use numerals, group digits, and make phone numbers and codes scannable.
Use numerals#
Write numbers as figures, including 1 to 9: "You have 3 pending requests." Figures are faster to scan than words on a small screen, and they survive translation.
Exception: where a numeral could be misread at the start of a sentence, rewrite the sentence.
Group long numbers#
- Thousands separators always: 1,500,000.
- Phone numbers in Nigerian reading groups: 0803 123 4567.
- Account numbers in pairs or as the bank presents them: 0123 4567 89.
USSD codes#
Write USSD codes exactly as dialled, in bold or code style, with no spaces: dial *737* or *565*0#. Always say what the code does beside it.
Percentages and rates#
Use the % symbol with no space: 2.5%. For money, pair the rate with a concrete example — "1.5% fee (₦150 on a ₦10,000 transfer)" — because users reason in naira, not percentages.
Related guidance#
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