Starting Sentences With Numbers – Learn with 150+ Examples!

Have you ever paused before a sentence, wondering if it’s okay to start with a number? You’re not alone! This is a common question for many writers. The answer, like most things in language, is – it depends.

Traditionally, starting a sentence with a numeral number was considered a bit of a NO-NO. The idea was that it created an awkward, abrupt beginning. But can you do it anyway?

There are two main schools of thought:

• Formal Writing: If you’re writing something super formal, like an academic paper or a business report, it’s still best to avoid starting sentences with numbers. Style guides like MLA (Modern Language Association) prefer a more traditional flow. You can usually rephrase the sentence to put the number later, or spell it out if it’s a small number.
• Informal Writing: In everyday writing, emails, blog posts, or even creative fiction, starting with a number is perfectly acceptable! It can add emphasis, create a sense of rhythm, or simply be the most natural way to phrase your sentence.

Making it Work…

So, if you’re in a situation where starting with a number feels natural, here are some tips:

Small Numbers: Numbers one through nine are usually written out in informal writing when they start a sentence. For example, “Three cookies were left on the plate.”

Large Numbers: Spelling out very large numbers can get clunky. In this case, consider rephrasing or starting with a word like “Nearly” or “Over.” “Nearly a million people attended the concert” sounds better than “987,234 people attended the concert.”

Variety in Writing: But using numbers to start sentences adds variety to your writing style. Alternating between traditional sentence structures and those starting with numbers keeps the reader engaged.

Examples:

• “10 out of 10 experts agree…”
• “365 days passed before…”
• “100 kilometers away, a hidden gem awaits…”
• “7 ways to improve your writing skills include…”

Whichever way you choose, make sure the sentence is clear and easy to understand. If starting with a number makes your sentence confusing, rewrite it!

Starting Sentences With Numbers – Beyond the Basics

Numbers can be used in interesting ways at the beginning of sentences:

• Dates: Dates are a perfectly acceptable way to start a sentence. “May 1st is a national holiday in many countries.”
• Statistics: Numbers can grab the reader’s attention right away. “Eighty percent of shoppers say they read online reviews before making a purchase.”
• Lists: Numbers can introduce numbered lists within a sentence. “For a healthy breakfast, you can choose from: 1. Oatmeal with berries, 2. Eggs with whole-wheat toast, or 3. Greek yogurt with granola.”

Types Of Numbers Use For Make Sentences

The list of numbers are long. But traditionally , two types of numbers used most to make sentences –

1. Cardinal Numbers
2. Ordinal Numbers

1/ Cardinal Numbers

Cardinal numbers represent quantity and answer the question “How many?”. They are used for counting objects and denote the size of a set.

Examples of Cardinal Numbers:

Cardinal Number	Example Sentence
1	“I have one cat.”
2	“She bought two books.”
3	“There are three cars in the garage.”
4	“We have four chairs at the dining table.”
5	“He ate five apples.”

2/ Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers indicate position or order in a sequence. They answer the question “Which one?” and are used to describe the rank or position of something.

Examples of Ordinal Numbers:

Ordinal Number	Example Sentence
1st	“She won first place in the race.”
2nd	“He finished second in the competition.”
3rd	“They live on the third floor of the building.”
4th	“Her birthday is on the fourth of July.”
5th	“This is the fifth time I’ve seen this picture.”

In summary, cardinal numbers are used for counting and quantifying objects, while ordinal numbers are used to indicate the position or order of objects in a sequence.

Sentences Starting with Cardinal Numbers – Some Examples

#	Sentence
1.	One small step can lead to great discoveries.
2.	Two halves make a whole, a concept of unity.
3.	Three meals a day keep the hunger away.
4.	Four seasons bring variety to life.
5.	Five senses help us experience the world.
6.	Six strings on a guitar create beautiful melodies.
7.	Seven colors form a rainbow after the rain.
8.	Eight legs make a spider a fascinating creature.
9.	Nine lives are said to belong to a cat in folklore.
10.	Ten fingers allow us to grasp and touch the world.
11.	Eleven stars twinkled in the midnight sky.
12.	Twelve months make up a year, a cycle of time.
13.	Thirteen colonies declared independence to form the United States.
14.	Fourteen days until the deadline for submissions.
15.	Fifteen minutes of fame can come and go quickly.
16.	Sixteen candles on the birthday cake mark a special milestone.
17.	Seventeen syllables in a haiku, a form of Japanese poetry.
18.	Eighteen years old, legally an adult in many countries.
19.	Nineteen letters in the alphabet, excluding variations.
20.	Twenty questions to get to know someone better.
21.	Twenty-one gun salute for ceremonial occasions.
22.	Twenty-two chapters in the book, each revealing a new twist.
23.	Twenty-three pairs of chromosomes in the human body.
24.	Twenty-four hours in a day, a cycle of sunrise and sunset.
25.	Twenty-five cents for a gumball from the machine.
26.	Twenty-six letters in the English alphabet, from A to Z.
27.	Twenty-seven bones in the human hand, intricately designed.
28.	Twenty-eight days in February, except during leap years.
29.	Twenty-nine years, a milestone for some, a stepping stone for others.
30.	Thirty minutes of exercise a day can improve overall health.
31.	Thirty-one flavors to choose from at the ice cream parlor.
32.	Thirty-two teeth in the average adult human mouth.
33.	Thirty-three degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature at which water freezes.
34.	Thirty-four kilometers to the nearest town, a long journey by foot.
35.	Thirty-five years of marriage, a testament to love and commitment.
36.	Thirty-six photos in the album, each capturing a precious memory.
37.	Thirty-seven degrees Celsius, a hot summer day.
38.	Thirty-eight years since the historic event.
39.	Thirty-nine steps to reach the top of the tower.
40.	Forty days and nights of rain, a biblical flood.
41.	Forty-one years old, a milestone birthday to celebrate.
42.	Forty-two kilometers, the length of a marathon.
43.	Forty-three students in the classroom, eager to learn.
44.	Forty-four cards in a standard deck, including jokers.
45.	Forty-five minutes until the train arrives at the station.
46.	Forty-six chromosomes in a human cell, arranged in pairs.
47.	Forty-seven years since the historic event.
48.	Forty-eight keys on the piano, creating beautiful melodies.
49.	Forty-nine percent of the population agreed with the proposal.
50.	Fifty states make up the United States of America.
51.	Fifty-one cards in a deck if you include the jokers.
52.	Fifty-two weeks in a year, a journey through seasons.
53.	Fifty-three passengers on the bus heading downtown.
54.	Fifty-four years since the historic event.
55.	Fifty-five kilometers per hour, the speed limit on this road.
56.	Fifty-six channels on TV, yet nothing good to watch.
57.	Fifty-seven varieties of pickles at the local market.
58.	Fifty-eight students in the graduating class, ready to embark on new journeys.
59.	Fifty-nine seconds until liftoff, the tension palpable in the control room.
60.	Sixty seconds in a minute, each one precious.
61.	Sixty-one keys on a standard piano, each producing a unique sound.
62.	Sixty-two miles to the nearest town, a journey through winding roads.
63.	Sixty-three minutes until the meeting begins, time to prepare.
64.	Sixty-four squares on a chessboard, a battleground for strategic minds.
65.	Sixty-five years young, embracing life with vigor and zest.
66.	Sixty-six percent of voters cast their ballots in the election.
67.	Sixty-seven messages in the inbox, a daunting task to sort through.
68.	Sixty-eight degrees, the perfect temperature for a cozy evening indoors.
69.	Sixty-nine steps to reach the top of the ancient tower.
70.	Seventy years of friendship, a bond that withstands the test of time.
71.	Seventy-one years since the end of the war, a time of rebuilding.
72.	Seventy-two degrees, the ideal temperature for a refreshing swim.
73.	Seventy-three books on the shelf, waiting to be explored.
74.	Seventy-four years young, still full of vitality and enthusiasm.
75.	Seventy-five cents for a cup of coffee, a small price for a moment of warmth.
76.	Seventy-six trombones led the big parade, a memorable sight.
77.	Seventy-seven years of age, a time to reflect on a life well-lived.
78.	Seventy-eight years since the historic event.
79.	Seventy-nine miles per hour, the speed of the rushing wind.
80.	Eighty percent of success is showing up, as they say.
81.	Eighty-one keys on a standard piano, a symphony at your fingertips.
82.	Eighty-two years old, a lifetime of memories to cherish.
83.	Eighty-three steps to climb to the top of the ancient tower.
84.	Eighty-four months since they last met, a reunion long overdue.
85.	Eighty-five candles on the birthday cake, a testament to a long life.
86.	Eighty-six years of age, still young at heart.
87.	Eighty-seven years since the historic event.
88.	Eighty-eight keys on the piano, each waiting to be played.
89.	Eighty-nine degrees Fahrenheit, a warm summer day.
90.	Ninety years of wisdom, a lifetime of experiences.
91.	Ninety-one miles to the nearest city, a journey worth taking.
92.	Ninety-two years since the historic event.
93.	Ninety-three years young, living life to the fullest.
94.	Ninety-four degrees, a scorching summer afternoon.
95.	Ninety-five percent certainty, but still room for doubt.
96.	Ninety-six hours until the project deadline, a race against time.
97.	Ninety-seven reasons to smile on a sunny day.
98.	Ninety-eight years since the historic event.
99.	Ninety-nine red balloons floating in the summer sky.
100.	One hundred years, a century of progress and change.

#	Sentence
101.	10 out of 10 experts agree…
102.	365 days passed before…
103.	100 kilometers away, a hidden gem awaits…
104.	7 ways to improve your writing skills include…
105.	3 cups of coffee per day may increase productivity…
106.	50 states in the United States of America…
107.	12 months make up a year…
108.	4 seasons bring variety to life…
109.	2 sides to every story…
110.	8 glasses of water a day for optimal health…
111.	6 strings on a standard guitar…
112.	1 apple a day keeps the doctor away…
113.	5 senses help us perceive the world around us…
114.	9 lives attributed to cats in folklore…
115.	11 players on a football team…
116.	30 days hath September, April, June, and November…
117.	40 winks for a refreshing nap…
118.	21 gun salute in some military ceremonies…
119.	15 minutes of fame…
120.	25th December, a day celebrated as Christmas…

Ordinal Numbers Sentences

Here are some sentences example that start with ordinal numbers –

Sentences Starting with Ordinal Numbers – List 1

Serial No	Sentence
1	First, let me introduce myself.
2	Secondly, we need to discuss the budget.
3	Thirdly, I want to address some concerns.
4	Fourthly, we should consider alternative solutions.
5	Fifthly, we’ll review the project timeline.

Sentences Starting with Ordinal Numbers – List 2

Serial No	Sentence
1	1st, let’s review the project plan.
2	2nd, I’ll provide a summary of our findings.
3	3rd, we need to finalize the budget.
4	1st of all, we should identify our goals.
5	2nd in line, she’ll present the progress report.
6	3rd place winner, congratulations!

Ordinal Numbers in Sentences – Some Other Examples

Serial No	Text
1	She won first place in the competition.
2	His office is on the second floor.
3	This is the third time I’ve called you.
4	The fourth chapter of the book is the best.
5	He finished in fifth place.
6	Today is her sixth birthday.
7	This is the seventh time I’ve visited this museum.
8	She is in eighth grade.
9	We live on the ninth floor.
10	He was the tenth person to arrive.
11	It’s the eleventh day of the month.
12	She finished in twelfth place.
13	He celebrated his thirteenth birthday.
14	This is my fourteenth attempt.
15	She is the fifteenth student in the class.
16	He lives on the sixteenth floor.
17	This is the seventeenth book I’ve read this year.
18	We are celebrating our eighteenth anniversary.
19	He was the nineteenth person in line.
20	This is the twentieth time I’ve told you.
21	She lives on the twenty-first floor.
22	He finished in twenty-second place.
23	It’s the twenty-third day of the month.
24	Today is her twenty-fourth birthday.
25	This is my twenty-fifth visit.
26	He finished in twenty-sixth place.
27	It’s the twenty-seventh day of the year.
28	She celebrated her twenty-eighth birthday.
29	He is in twenty-ninth position.
30	This is the thirtieth book I’ve read.
31	He finished in thirty-first place.
32	It’s the thirty-second day of the month.
33	Today is her thirty-third birthday.
34	He finished in thirty-fourth place.
35	This is the thirty-fifth floor.
36	She celebrated her thirty-sixth anniversary.
37	It’s the thirty-seventh day of the year.
38	He finished in thirty-eighth place.
39	This is my thirty-ninth attempt.
40	Today is the fortieth day of the project.
41	He finished in forty-first place.
42	It’s the forty-second day of the month.
43	She celebrated her forty-third birthday.
44	This is the forty-fourth time I’ve told you.
45	He was the forty-fifth person to arrive.
46	It’s the forty-sixth day of the year.
47	Today is the forty-seventh day of the semester.
48	He lives on the forty-eighth floor.
49	This is the forty-ninth book I’ve read.
50	We celebrated our fiftieth anniversary.

Ordinal Numbers in Sentences – More Examples

Serial No	Text
1	She won 1st place in the competition.
2	His office is on the 2nd floor.
3	This is the 3rd time I’ve called you.
4	The 4th chapter of the book is the best.
5	He finished in 5th place.
6	Today is her 6th birthday.
7	This is the 7th time I’ve visited this museum.
8	She is in 8th grade.
9	We live on the 9th floor.
10	He was the 10th person to arrive.
11	It’s the 11th day of the month.
12	She finished in 12th place.
13	He celebrated his 13th birthday.
14	This is my 14th attempt.
15	She is the 15th student in the class.
16	He lives on the 16th floor.
17	This is the 17th book I’ve read this year.
18	We are celebrating our 18th anniversary.
19	He was the 19th person in line.
20	This is the 20th time I’ve told you.
21	She lives on the 21st floor.
22	He finished in 22nd place.
23	It’s the 23rd day of the month.
24	Today is her 24th birthday.
25	This is my 25th visit.
26	He finished in 26th place.
27	It’s the 27th day of the year.
28	She celebrated her 28th birthday.
29	He is in 29th position.
30	This is the 30th book I’ve read.

Lets Make More!

Make some more sentences with numbers! Leave your own in the comment section to show your creativity!