English for Numbers, Data & Statistics

Q: How do you say large numbers in English?

In English, large numbers are grouped in thousands: 1,000 (one thousand), 1,000,000 (one million), 1,000,000,000 (one billion). Say each group separately: 1,450,300 = 'one million, four hundred and fifty thousand, three hundred'. Note: in British English 'and' is used after 'hundred'; in American English it is often omitted. A billion = 1,000 million in modern English (both British and American).

Q: How do you say percentages in English?

Say the number followed by 'percent': 25% = 'twenty-five percent'. For decimals: 3.5% = 'three point five percent'. In presentations: 'Sales increased by 12 percent' or 'Sales rose by 12%'. The word 'percentage' (without a number) refers to a proportion: 'A large percentage of customers preferred the new design.'

Q: What verbs describe trends in English?

Rising trends: increase, rise, grow, climb, surge, soar, jump, rocket. Falling trends: decrease, fall, drop, decline, shrink, plunge, plummet, dip. Stable trends: remain stable, level off, plateau, stay constant, hold steady. Fluctuating: fluctuate, vary, be volatile, oscillate. Always pair the verb with a magnitude and timeframe: 'Sales surged by 34% in Q3.'

Q: How do you read decimal numbers in English?

Read decimals by saying 'point' for the decimal separator, then each digit individually: 3.14 = 'three point one four'. Exception: money — £3.50 is 'three pounds fifty' not 'three point five zero pounds'. Temperatures: 37.5°C = 'thirty-seven point five degrees Celsius'. IELTS and academic writing: use numerals for decimals (0.75), not words.

Q: What is the difference between 'fewer' and 'less' with numbers?

'Fewer' is used with countable nouns: 'fewer students', 'fewer than 100 cases'. 'Less' is used with uncountable nouns: 'less money', 'less than 50% of the total'. In everyday speech, 'less' is often used for both (e.g. shop signs say 'Ten items or less'), but in formal and academic writing, the fewer/less distinction should be maintained.

Q: How do you describe fractions in English?

Simple fractions: 1/2 = a half, 1/3 = a third, 1/4 = a quarter, 3/4 = three quarters, 2/3 = two thirds. For other fractions, use ordinal numbers for the denominator: 3/8 = three eighths, 5/6 = five sixths. In academic and business contexts, percentages and decimals are more common than fractions except for very simple ones.

Q: What phrases describe approximate numbers in English?

Approximation phrases: around, approximately, roughly, about, nearly, almost, just under, just over, in the region of, somewhere in the range of. Formal: 'approximately 2,000 participants'. Informal: 'about two thousand people'. Academic writing: 'Approximately 45% of respondents (n=900) reported...' Use exact numbers when you have them; approximations when speaking or estimating.

Q: How do you describe data comparisons in English?

Comparison language: 'X is twice as high as Y.' / 'X is three times greater than Y.' / 'X accounts for a larger share than Y.' / 'Y represents roughly half of X.' For equal values: 'X and Y are broadly similar.' / 'X matches Y almost exactly.' IELTS Task 1 and academic writing require precise comparative language — practise with Matching Pairs on LexFizz.

Q: How do you write numbers in academic English?

General rule: write out numbers one to nine as words (one, two, three); use numerals for 10 and above (10, 25, 150). Always use numerals for: percentages (45%), measurements (5 km), decimals (3.7), statistics (p < 0.05). Never start a sentence with a numeral — rewrite: 'Forty percent of...' not '40% of...' These rules vary slightly by style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago).

Q: What is the vocabulary for describing graphs and charts in English?

Describe graphs with these key phrases: 'The bar chart shows...' / 'The pie chart illustrates...' / 'According to the data...' / 'As shown in the figure...' For peaks: 'reached a peak of' / 'hit a high of'. For troughs: 'fell to a low of' / 'dropped to its lowest point'. For overall trends: 'Overall, the data suggests...' / 'The general trend indicates...'

VocabularyB1–C18 min readPublished 13 June 2026

Key Takeaways

Large numbers in English are grouped in thousands — say each group separately.
Use "fewer" for countable nouns and "less" for uncountable in formal English.
Trend vocabulary (surge, plummet, plateau) is essential for describing graphs and data.
In academic writing, write numbers one to nine as words; use numerals for 10 and above.

Whether you are giving a business presentation, writing an IELTS Task 1 essay, or reading financial news in English, the ability to understand and produce number language accurately is a key B1–C1 skill. This guide covers large numbers, percentages, fractions, trend vocabulary, and the rules for writing numbers in formal English — with examples throughout.

1. Large Numbers

English groups large numbers in sets of three digits, using commas (or spaces in some countries) as separators:

Numeral	In English words
1,000	one thousand
10,000	ten thousand
100,000	one hundred thousand
1,000,000	one million
1,000,000,000	one billion
2,350,000	two million, three hundred and fifty thousand

Note: In British English, "and" is used after "hundred" (two hundred and fifty). In American English, this "and" is often omitted in speech. In modern international English, both are understood.

2. Percentages and Fractions

Percentages are always read as a number followed by "percent": 35% = "thirty-five percent". Common patterns:

"Sales increased by 12 percent."
"Approximately 67% of respondents agreed."
"The figure stood at 3.5% — three point five percent."

Key fractions in English: a half (1/2), a quarter (1/4), three quarters (3/4), a third (1/3), two thirds (2/3). In professional contexts, percentages and decimals are generally preferred over fractions.

Fewer vs Less

Use fewer with countable nouns: "fewer than 100 students". Use less with uncountable nouns: "less than 50% of the total". In formal and academic English, maintaining this distinction is important. In everyday speech, "less" is often used for both, but avoid it in writing.

3. Describing Trends

Trend vocabulary is essential for IELTS Writing Task 1, business reports, and presentations. Organise verbs by direction:

Upward trends: increase, rise, grow, climb, surge, soar, jump, rocket, shoot up
Downward trends: decrease, fall, drop, decline, shrink, plunge, plummet, dip, slide
Stable trends: remain stable, level off, plateau, stay constant, hold steady
Fluctuating: fluctuate, vary, be volatile, oscillate, go up and down

Add adverbs for intensity: sharply, significantly, dramatically, gradually, slightly, marginally, rapidly. Example: "Revenue fell sharply in Q2 before recovering gradually over the second half of the year."

4. Graph and Chart Language

When describing a visual for an IELTS exam or business report, use these structures:

"The bar chart shows the number of..."
"According to the data, X reached a peak of Y in [year]."
"X accounts for the largest proportion at 45%."
"There is a clear upward trend in..."
"By contrast, Y experienced a significant decline."
"Overall, the data suggests that..."

Practise describing data with Complete the Sentence and reinforce vocabulary with Flash Cards on LexFizz. See also our guide to English Grammar Exercises Online.

5. Number Rules in Academic Writing

Write numbers one to nine as words: seven participants, three countries
Use numerals for 10 and above: 25 respondents, 150 samples
Always use numerals for: percentages (35%), measurements (12 km), decimals (0.75), statistics (p < 0.05)
Never begin a sentence with a numeral — rewrite or spell out: "Forty percent of..." not "40% of..."
Be consistent within the same passage — if you use numerals for one group, use them for related groups

Practise Number Vocabulary

Drill trend words, number phrases, and data vocabulary with free interactive exercises.

Start Flash Cards →

6. Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say large numbers in English?

In English, large numbers are grouped in thousands: 1,000 (one thousand), 1,000,000 (one million), 1,000,000,000 (one billion). Say each group separately: 1,450,300 = "one million, four hundred and fifty thousand, three hundred". A billion = 1,000 million in modern English (both British and American).

How do you say percentages in English?

Say the number followed by "percent": 25% = "twenty-five percent". For decimals: 3.5% = "three point five percent". The word "percentage" (without a number) refers to a proportion: "A large percentage of customers preferred the new design."

What verbs describe trends in English?

Rising trends: increase, rise, grow, climb, surge, soar, jump, rocket. Falling trends: decrease, fall, drop, decline, shrink, plunge, plummet, dip. Stable trends: remain stable, level off, plateau, hold steady. Fluctuating: fluctuate, vary, be volatile. Pair the verb with a magnitude and timeframe: "Sales surged by 34% in Q3."

How do you read decimal numbers in English?

Read decimals by saying "point" for the decimal separator, then each digit individually: 3.14 = "three point one four". Exception: money — £3.50 is "three pounds fifty". Temperatures: 37.5°C = "thirty-seven point five degrees Celsius".

What is the difference between "fewer" and "less" with numbers?

"Fewer" is used with countable nouns: "fewer students", "fewer than 100 cases". "Less" is used with uncountable nouns: "less money", "less than 50% of the total". In formal and academic writing, the fewer/less distinction should be maintained.

How do you describe fractions in English?

Simple fractions: 1/2 = a half, 1/3 = a third, 1/4 = a quarter, 3/4 = three quarters, 2/3 = two thirds. For other fractions, use ordinal numbers for the denominator: 3/8 = three eighths. In academic contexts, percentages and decimals are more common than fractions.

What phrases describe approximate numbers in English?

Approximation phrases: around, approximately, roughly, about, nearly, almost, just under, just over, in the region of, somewhere in the range of. Formal: "approximately 2,000 participants". Use exact numbers when you have them; approximations when estimating.

How do you describe data comparisons in English?

Comparison language: "X is twice as high as Y." / "X is three times greater than Y." / "X accounts for a larger share than Y." / "Y represents roughly half of X." For equal values: "X and Y are broadly similar." IELTS Task 1 and academic writing require precise comparative language.

How do you write numbers in academic English?

Write out numbers one to nine as words; use numerals for 10 and above. Always use numerals for: percentages (45%), measurements (5 km), decimals (3.7), statistics (p < 0.05). Never start a sentence with a numeral — rewrite: "Forty percent of..." not "40% of..."

What is the vocabulary for describing graphs and charts in English?

Key phrases: "The bar chart shows..." / "According to the data..." / "reached a peak of" / "fell to a low of" / "As shown in the figure..." / "The general trend indicates..." For IELTS Task 1, practice describing at least one upward trend, one downward trend, and one comparison in every answer.