Sentence should start with a word / comparing against/with

[Tan Elaine]

40% of lizard species worldwide could be extinct by 2080.

Barry Sinerro reached the conclusion by taking current data on Mexican lizards and comparing it against extinction modelling and projected risks worldwide.

1. Can I start a sentence with a number as above? I remember reading that a sentence should start with a word, thus it should be 'Forty per cent'. Am I correct?

2. Is 'against' the correct word? I think if should be 'with'.

Thanks.

[Gillnetter]

40% of lizard species worldwide could be extinct by 2080.

Barry Sinerro reached the conclusion by taking current data on Mexican lizards and comparing it against extinction modelling and projected risks worldwide.

1. Can I start a sentence with a number as above? I remember reading that a sentence should start with a word, thus it should be 'Forty per cent'. Am I correct? Yes

2. Is 'against' the correct word? I think if should be 'with'. Either one would work.

Thanks.

Gil

[5jj]

1. Can I start a sentence with a number as above? I remember reading that a sentence should start with a word, thus it should be 'Forty per cent'. Am I correct?.

Some people think that it is better style to write mumbers as words at the beginning of the sentence, but many people ignore this.