MLA writing for numbers

[sparky178]

How great an error is it to write "16th Century" in an essay instead of spelling out "sixteenth century". Until I had actually looked up the MLA writing method in essays I have always seen the first example used and was always under the impression that after the number ten was when you changed over to writing out the digits for numbers?

[Anglika]

Welcome to the forums.

The fully spelled-out is regarded as more formal, but I have seen both forms in serious publications.

[RegsH]

Most MLA websites recommend writing out numbers (using three instead of 3).

If I have a quote with the numerals, and wanted to write it in words, is there a way to indicate that I've changed the quote? Or do I not need to indicate that I've spelled the numbers out?

For example, I want to change a quote from "the country is still only 16 percent energy self-sufficient" to "the country is still only sixteen percent energy self-sufficient." Is that okay to do without marking it in some way?

Thanks!

[Anglika]

My instinct is to say you should not change anything within a quote.
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The spelling out of numerals in typesetting stops after the figure reaches double-figures - so any figure following 10 will use numerals.