Support for Indie Authors discussion

Question: in fiction narrative or dialog, how do you write highway numbers?

1) “That’s El Yermo in the center, with Highway eighty-nine just south of it.”
or,
2) “That’s El Yermo in the center, with Highway 89 just south of it.”

The numerals look odd, but written out it looks worse. Anyone know the definitive style?

I think I wrote mine out: Highway

I used numbers: " . . . taking the fastest route up Sepulveda, or going the long way on the 405 Freeway?"

Numbers. As I recall, the rule in English for highways, interstates, etc. write out the numeral as it would appear on a map. Highway 30's official name is Highway 30, not Highway Thirty.

Also, as a personal aside, I sometimes set stories in a fictional place called Grove County. It sits where the real county sits in which I grew up. There's a highway that runs down the middle - Highway 69. I need to write that as a numeral because I'm twelve.

Oh I didn’t read that correctly. You were referring to the numbers. I think I wrote “Highway 89” in one of my recent books. I think I did some research first as to what is more accepted.

Thanks all, for your help... Makes sense, but numerals just seemed out of place in fiction text.

ML: Really? Sepulveda the fastest route anywhere?
Dwayne: Or as the French say: soixante neuf... Yeah, at heart we're all twelve.
Leah: But you're right. I've seen Hwy. 89 in books. It just looks weird.

C.B. Matson wrote: "Thanks all, for your help... Makes sense, but numerals just seemed out of place in fiction text."

Because we've been told and told and told that when writing, we should write out the numbers instead of using numerals, which is true most of the time. There are exceptions and this is one of them.

Well, if you ever plan to motor west
Jack, take my way, it's the highway, that's the best
Get your kicks on Route 66

… when in doubt, trust Chuck Berry.

C.B. Matson wrote: "Thanks all, for your help... Makes sense, but numerals just seemed out of place in fiction text.

ML: Really? Sepulveda the fastest route anywhere?
"

It all depends on where the onramp is. :) Say . . . Palos Verdes around midnight, tied up on the car floor . . . ? Yes. :)

About numbers, it looks stodgy to write them out. :)

Dwayne wrote: "C.B. Matson wrote: "Thanks all, for your help... Makes sense, but numerals just seemed out of place in fiction text."

Because we've been told and told and told that when writing, we should write o..."

I agree with Dwayne. And not abbreviated Hwy. 98. Highway 98.

Spell out the word: Route/Highway then use numbers. So it would be Route 89, Highway 64, I-20 for an interstate. (at least that was what two editors told me to do.)

Excellent information. I'll have to remember that!

AP Style examples:
U.S. Highway 1
U.S. Route 1
U.S. 1
state Route 34
Route 34
Interstate Highway 495
Interstate 495 or I-495
Route 1A