Expressing ordinal numbers

   MT Reference Style Guide  >  Medical Transcription Grammar, Usage and Style  >  Numbers  >  Expressing ordinal numbers

Ordinal numbers are generally used to express order or rank, rather than a precise quantity.

Because it's felt that the numerical form of the most commonly occurring ordinals is jarring and interrupts the flow of text, ordinals first through ninth are spelled out in formal publications and correspondence only.
In medical records, all ordinals are expressed as numbers unless they meet other requirements for being spelled out.

The 3rd rib was broken.
It was her 5th visit in as many days.

If your text editor superscripts the ordinals, they may remain superscripted.

The 3^rd rib was broken.
It was her 5^th visit in as many days.

NOTE: This is per the AHDI Book of Style 3rd Ed.  The AMA Manual of Style (which would be the preferred style for more formal publications) has the following exceptions for ordinals.

• Ordinal numbers first through ninth are spelled out.
• Ordinal numbers tenth and larger are written numerically, with the appropriate suffix (-st, -nd, -rd, -th).
• The ordinal suffix should not be superscripted.
• If a sentence contains 2 or more ordinals, at least one of which is greater than ninth, all should be expressed in numeric form.