Narrative vs. dialogue

This issue might boil down to how important it is for the reader to engage with the number itself.

In your example, if the passage exists to show us that the character has magical powers, and is able to instantly count an exact number of tiny particles, then the first version works best.

If the READER is supposed to take note of how many particles there are, (because the next pile has fewer particles, meaning somebody has been stealing them)—then the second version works best—because it is easier to compare two numbers when they are written in figures.

 

Urgh? Approximate numbers? Which bridges have you built, so I can avoid driving onto them???

 

In the vast majority of cases in engineering, three or four significant digits is sufficient. The numbers we use are accurate, but they don't necessarily have to be very precise (there's a big difference between accuracy and precision).

Besides, in the large majority of cases, we just can't know the actual numbers to greater precision than that. There are practical limitations on our measuring instruments. Also, usually, the components we use can't be specified to great precision. I'm an electrical engineer, and the resistance values of the resistors we usually use are plus or minus five percent. You can buy more precise resistors, but the cost goes up exponentially (or thereabouts) with precision. Capacitors are even worse. Fortunately, for most applications, this level of precision is plenty good enough.

I don't build bridges. But bridge engineers probably have to deal with the same kind of thing.

 

That's me swimming from now on...

 

@minstrel - I think I'll just stay home...

 

Actually, Jan, I wasn't knocking S&W. I was pleased to see that they presented the year the same way I would.

 

Oh, yes, I knew that! In fact it struck me as well, that they'd almost contradicted themselves. But they used the get out of jail card by saying 'most dates,' so that covered it.

 

love that typo, jannert!

for those who're kibitzing in a kibbutz?

you have my vote for a new word coinage...

hugs, m

 

Well, I aim to please. Glad it made your day!

Actually, I didn't know that I'd misspelled it. Back to study my Yiddish, eh?

 

you're such a nice, unnebbishy non-nudnik, nevertheless...

 

Now ...where did I put my Yiddish dictionary...??? I'm like Bilbo Baggins's audience at his birthday party speech. ("I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve..."etc) Trying to work out if what you said comes out to a compliment...!

 

yup!