Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Converting Numbers to Text.

Converting Numbers to Text

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 29, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365


5

There are times when you need to spell numbers out. For instance, you may want to spell out "1234" as "one thousand two hundred thirty-four." Word has no built-in function that will do the conversion for you, so you are left to create a macro that will handle the conversion.

The following macro, BigCardText, will convert any number between 0 and 999,999,999. To use it, simply place the insertion point either within the number you want to convert or just to the right of the number (if it is a single digit).

Sub BigCardText()
    Dim sDigits As String
    Dim sBigStuff As String

    sBigStuff = ""

    ' Select the full number in which the insertion point is located
    Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdWord, Count:=1, Extend:=wdMove
    Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdWord, Count:=1, Extend:=wdExtend

    ' Store the digits in a variable
    sDigits = Trim(Selection.Text)

    If Val(sDigits) > 999999 Then
        If Val(sDigits) <= 999999999 Then
            sBigStuff = Trim(Int(Str(Val(sDigits) / 1000000)))
            ' Create a field containing the big digits and
            ' the cardtext format flag
            Selection.Fields.Add Range:=Selection.Range, _
              Type:=wdFieldEmpty, Text:="= " + sBigStuff + " \* CardText", _
              PreserveFormatting:=True

            ' Select the field and copy it
            Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdWord, Count:=1, Extend:=wdExtend
            sBigStuff = Selection.Text & " million "
            sDigits = Right(sDigits, 6)
        End If
    End If
    If Val(sDigits) <= 999999 Then
        ' Create a field containing the digits and the cardtext format flag
        Selection.Fields.Add Range:=Selection.Range, _
          Type:=wdFieldEmpty, Text:="= " + sDigits + " \* CardText", _
          PreserveFormatting:=True

        ' Select the field and copy it
        Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdWord, Count:=1, Extend:=wdExtend
        sDigits = sBigStuff & Selection.Text

        ' Now put the words in the document
        Selection.TypeText Text:=sDigits
        Selection.TypeText Text:=" "
    Else
        MsgBox "Number too large", vbOKOnly
    End If
End Sub

When using the macro, make sure that the number you are converting does not contain extraneous information, such as dollar signs or commas. When you run BigCardText, the macro checks to see if the selected number is over one million. If it is, it first works on the portion above one million, converting it to words. Then, the value below one million is converted. The final, full wording is put together and pasted back into the document, ready for use.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (7755) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Converting Numbers to Text.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Absolutely Getting Rid of Formatting

Need to get rid of the formatting applied to a bunch of text? One of the easiest ways to do this is to use Notepad in ...

Discover More

Making Live URLs Into Normal Text

Convert those URLs into regular text! It's easy to do when you follow the steps in this tip.

Discover More

Limiting Number of Characters in a Cell

Need to limit the number of characters that can be entered into a cell? One easy way to do it is through the use of Data ...

Discover More

Do More in Less Time! Are you ready to harness the full power of Word 2013 to create professional documents? In this comprehensive guide you'll learn the skills and techniques for efficiently building the documents you need for your professional and your personal life. Check out Word 2013 In Depth today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Creating a Document Font List

If you want a list of all the fonts used in a document, the answer isn't as simple as you may think. This tip uses macros ...

Discover More

Understanding Document Variables

When working with macros, you may want to create a variable that will remain constant from one instance of the macro to ...

Discover More

Accessing a Footnote Number in VBA

If you are working with a document that includes footnotes, you might use a macro to do some processing of that document. ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is five more than 0?

2022-10-14 01:37:29

Rose

Is there any macro that would convert in the other direction? E.g., to convert "one thousand two hundred thirty-four" to "1234"?


2019-09-04 02:14:58

Arshad

Hi פ. רוטנברג
You can use this code to replace all numbers with words.
Sub TestFunction()
Dim iCount As Integer
Selection.HomeKey Unit:=wdStory
With Selection.Find
.Text = "^#"
.Forward = True
End With
Do While Selection.Find.Found = True And iCount < 1000
iCount = iCount + 1
Selection.HomeKey Unit:=wdStory
Selection.Find.Execute
If Selection.Find.Found Then
Call BigCardText
End If
Loop
End Sub

iCount is restricted to 1000 you may adjust according to your requirement.


2019-08-28 04:13:49

Arshad

is there any code to convert numbers after decimals. if possible kindly guide me


2019-07-28 03:58:44

Ch. F.


This macro is very important to me if I can use it in another language like Hebrew. Is there such a macro feasibility?


2019-07-28 03:50:51

פ. רוטנברג

How can I change some settings in this macro that will apply to all numbers in the document at one time?


This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.