Rachel Freeman Jun 8, 2012:

I agree with Charles. The title should list the numbers in words not figures.

Charles Davis Jun 8, 2012:

Yes, they can be different, though generally not on points like this. Where they can vary quite a lot is in how they want bibliographical references presented, but that's another issue.

Some journals provide authors with their own style guide; others just tell them to follow this or that general one. And it depends very much on the field; some things are done very differently in natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. But here, in the humanities, the default guides are Chicago or MLA in the US and MHRA in the UK. All these tell you to write out centuries in words.

This is not to say that some journals may not allow or even favour centuries in figures, but the overwhelming consensus is the other way, so that's the "safe" option.

broca (asker) Jun 8, 2012:

Received with thanks, and I'll follow your advice.
I'd just like to make a comment on how different can style guides be depending on the academic journal you intend to contribute to.

Charles Davis Jun 8, 2012:

@Broca Well, I wouldn't do it. If the editors want to save space by putting "17th" and "18th", that's up to them, but it would be very unusual, and it's much more likely that they would change the figures to words. Putting centuries in words is one of those rules that's drummed into you as a research student: you just don't write "17th century", it's not done, and makes you look as though you don't know the rules. I know it seems silly, but there it is; the style guides are very explicit on this. So I'd advise against it.

broca (asker) Jun 8, 2012:

Thank you, Charles. Yes, it is an academic article, but as the centuries appear in the title, I used figures instead of words, to save space. Would it be too shocking?

Charles Davis Jun 8, 2012:

Hi Broca You may remember this:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/history/4649854...

Bear in mind that if this is an academic article, the centuries should be given in words: "from the seventeenth to the eighteenth century": all major British and American academic style guides (Chicago, MHRA, etc.) insist on this, though "17th" etc. is common in non-academic style. "Centuries" would be correct too; in this particular phrase, "century" would be more usual.