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How to say the total amount?

Which is the correct way to spell out dollars and cents?

Forty-Two Thousand Dollars and 00/100 ($42,000.00)

or

Forty-Two Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($42,000.00)

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If you're writing the amount on a check, where the word "dollars" is preprinted at the end of the line, the convention is to write "Forty-two thousand and 00/100", which is then followed by the pre-printed "dollars".

If you're writing in most other contexts, the convention is to write "forty-two thousand dollars and fifty-seven cents". If there are no cents, you simply leave that off, as in "forty-two thousand dollars".

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I would write forty-two thousand dollars even. (42,000.00)

00/100 cents is a very awkward formulation, doesn't provide more information, and takes up space.

Others can let me know if using even to clarify that no cents is involved is a regional/American thing.

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  • In Britain, only would be more usual than even.
    – neil
    Commented Jun 7, 2012 at 16:34
  • Interesting, that isn't something I hear. Forty-two thousand dollars exactly would also work.
    – Lawton
    Commented Jun 7, 2012 at 16:37
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    @neil: I think we only use "only" like that on cheques, to stop someone from fraudulently adding "and ninety-nine pence" before cashing it.
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Jun 7, 2012 at 16:48
  • @FumbleFingers - I think you're right, but I wouldn't normally expect "ten pounds and zero pence" to be written - it would either be "ten pounds" or "ten pounds only".
    – neil
    Commented Jun 7, 2012 at 17:08
  • @neil: Well, cheques are a bit passé now, but even if you had lots to cash, decades of inflation mean it would be a bad risk/reward activity to try adding 99p to each one. Today, I think this usage of the word "only" is just archaic convention.
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Jun 7, 2012 at 17:12

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