Number to words · British English
Zero in Numbers
Zero is written 0 in numbers, and 0 in words is “zero”. Below you will find the spelling, the cheque wording, the place values and the American and Indian forms.
In figures
0
In words
Zero
Cheque: Zero pounds only
0 at a glance
- Number
- 0
- In words (British)
- zero
- Title Case
- Zero
- American English
- zero
- Cheque (UK)
- Zero pounds only
- Cheque (US)
- Zero and 00/100 dollars
- Cheque (Bangladesh)
- Taka zero only
- Ordinal
- 0th – zeroth
- Digits
- 1 digit · even number
How to write 0 in words
The number 0 is written “zero” in British English.
0 is one of the basic number words that every larger number is built from, so it has to be learned rather than constructed.
In running text the number is normally lowercase: “the fee is zero pounds”. At the start of a sentence, in a heading, or on a legal document it takes capitals: Zero. Formal documents often give both forms together, for example “zero (0)”, so that a reader can check one against the other.
1 words · 4 letters
Zero in figures
To turn “zero” back into digits, work group by group. Each group word (billion, million, thousand) marks a block of three digits. The result is 0, or 0 without separators.
How to write 0 on a cheque
Banks read the amount in words as the legal amount, so it must be exact. Write the pounds in words, add the word pounds, and finish with only so that nothing can be added afterwards.
Pay
£0.00
Zero pounds only
Amount in words · UK cheque
- With pence: add the pence after the pounds – “Zero pounds and fifty pence only” for £0.50 – or write the pence as a fraction, “Zero pounds 50/100”.
- US check: “Zero and 00/100 dollars”. American cheques drop the “and” after the hundreds and put it before the cents.
- Bangladesh, India and Pakistan: the currency word comes first and the amount is counted in lakh and crore – “Taka zero only”, with the figure written Tk. 0/=.
| Currency | Figures | Amount in words |
|---|---|---|
| Pound sterlingUnited Kingdom | £0.00 | Zero pounds only |
| US dollarUnited States | $0.00 | Zero and 00/100 dollars |
| EuroEurozone | €0.00 | Zero euros only |
| Indian rupeeIndia | ₹0.00 | Rupees zero only |
| Bangladeshi takaBangladesh | Tk. 0/= | Taka zero only |
| Pakistani rupeePakistan | Rs. 0/- | Rupees zero only |
Read the full guide to writing a UK cheque or the guide to writing a cheque in Bangladesh for the layout, the date, and what to do if the words and figures disagree.
0 in British and American English
0 is spelled exactly the same way – “zero” – in British and American English. The two varieties only differ when a number contains hundreds followed by tens or units, where British English adds “and”. Read more in our guide to British vs American English numbers.
Common mistakes when writing 0
- Mixing words and figures. In running text keep to one style: zero or 0, not 0 (zero) unless it is a legal document.
Other ways to write 0
| With commas (UK/US) | 0 |
|---|---|
| Without separators | 0 |
| Ordinal | 0th (zeroth) |
Numbers near 0
Questions about 0
What is 0 in words?
0 in words is "zero". In Title Case, as on a formal document, it is "Zero". This is the standard British English spelling.
How do you write zero in numbers?
Zero in numbers is 0 (0 without the comma separators).
How do you write 0 on a cheque?
On a UK cheque write "Zero pounds only" in the amount-in-words box and £0.00 in the figures box. On a US check the wording is "Zero and 00/100 dollars".
How do you write 0 taka in words?
On a Bangladeshi cheque or invoice write "Taka zero only" and the figure as Tk. 0/=. Bangladesh counts in lakh and crore, so the words follow the South Asian system.
Is 0 written differently in American English?
No. 0 is "zero" in both British and American English, because there is no "and" to add or remove in this number.
How many digits does 0 have?
0 has 1 digit and is an even number. In expanded form it is 0.