What is the correct term for "2" vs "two"? [closed]

Question

When written this way, "2", what is the correct term?
When written this way, "two", what is the correct term?

Answer 1

'2' is an Arabic numeral (here).

'Two' is a word. You can also call it a number word.

Answer 2

When written as "2", it is a numeral. When written as "two", you could refer to it as spelled out, written out, or possibly longhand.

Answer 3

The AP style guide refers to representations such as 2 or 10 as "figures," not "numerals," since "two" or "ten" is also a numeral:

nu·mer·al (no͞o′mər-əl, nyo͞o′-)

n. A symbol or mark used to represent a number.

(The Free Dictionary)

If you don't believe that, Dictionary.com calls words numerals explicitly:

noun

1. a word, letter, symbol, or figure, etc., expressing a number; number:

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As for the words, AP Style just says "spell out."

I would suggest "spelled out" or "written out," but not "longhand," that refers to cursive writing.

Tl;dr:

2 is a figure.

two is "spelled out."

Answer 4

For "2":

• "2" is a digit,¹ as "as a digit;" if it were "42" it would "as digits"
• figure² is also used for this, particularly in British English and older American English
• Merriam-Webster uses "as a number" or "as numbers" for this form in its definitions, such as for figure above

For "two":

• "as a word;" "forty-two" would be "as words"

(While it's technically true that 2 is a word if you use it in a sentence, the phrase is unambiguous.)

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¹ "any of the Arabic numerals 1 to 9 and usually the symbol 0" - Merriam-Webster

² "a symbol that represents a number" - Merriam-Webster