Number to letter conversion is the process of swapping numbers for their corresponding letters in the alphabet. Number to word conversion involves writing out a number in its spelled-out form.
You’ll find both conversions used in everything from simple codes and puzzles to financial documents, grade reports, and everyday communication.
How does number-to-letter conversion work?
The simplest way to convert numbers to letters is to think of each letter of the alphabet as having a corresponding numerical value. So A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, and so on, all the way to Z = 26.
Sometimes, this mapping is extended so that the sequence wraps around, meaning that 27 would equal A, 28 would equal B, and so on.
If you don’t want to do the math yourself, there are plenty of online tools that will convert a string of numbers (usually separated by spaces) into the corresponding letters.
People use these tools to solve puzzles or do simple encoding and decoding.
Number to Word Conversion
A number-to-word converter does exactly what it sounds like: It takes a number and spells it out in English. These converters can typically handle numbers up to the nonillions.
Currency Conversion
Many converters will also convert a number into its word equivalent while adding currency representation. They often support U.S. dollars, Indian rupees, British pounds, and euros. For U.S. dollars, the numbers are usually formatted to two decimal places.
For example:
- $100 becomes “One Hundred Dollars.”
- $500 becomes “Five Hundred Dollars.”
Advanced Features
Some of the more sophisticated number-to-word converters can handle extremely large numbers, as well as numbers written in scientific notation. For example, they can convert a googol (10100) into words and can also convert numbers written as 1e-200 or 1e+200.
Keep in mind that these converters have limitations. You may not be able to convert a number that exceeds 200 characters, and the value of the number may need to be between 1e-200 and 1e+200.
Using number-to-word converters
Online number-to-word converters can make quick work of this task. Here’s what to expect:
- Input methods: You can usually type or copy-paste the number, upload a file, or paste a URL.
- Output options: Often, you’ll be able to specify the capitalization style you want, such as UPPER CASE, lower case, or Title Case.
Once the number has been converted to words, you’ll generally have the option to copy the text to your clipboard or download it as a file.
Conclusion
Number-to-letter and number-to-word conversions have a surprising number of uses, and thankfully, there are simple online tools to help you with any conversion you need.