Position of currency symbols: '100$' ($100)

In English, place currency symbols before the numeral with no space: $100, £50, €20. For documents aimed at international readers or containing multiple currencies, show the ISO code (USD, GBP, EUR) at first mention, then use symbols for brevity when context is clear.

Quick answer

Put the currency symbol before the number with no space: $100, £50, €20. Spell out amounts in flowing prose if that reads better; use ISO codes (USD 100) for clarity across currencies.

No space: $100 not $ 100.
Do not pluralize symbols: $50, not $50s.
Hyphenate spelled-out modifiers: a five-dollar fee; if you use the symbol as a modifier, write a $5 fee.

Core rule: symbol before the number

Standard English places the currency symbol immediately before the number. This applies across journalism, reports, business writing, and most style guides.

Symbol + number, no space: $100, £50, €20, ¥500.
Use ISO codes when multiple currencies appear or symbols might not render: USD 100.

Wrong: 100$
Right: $100
Wrong: 50£
Right: £50
Wrong: 20€
Right: €20
Wrong: 500¥
Right: ¥500
Wrong: 100 US$
Right: US$100 or USD 100 (use ISO codes in tables)

Grammar: symbols vs. words and pluralization

Use numerals and symbols for precise figures and tables; spell out amounts in running text when it improves flow. Never add an 's' to a currency symbol.

Symbol form: $5, £100 - concise and numeric.
Word form: five dollars, one hundred pounds - smoother in prose.
Wrong: $50s -
correct: $50 or fifty dollars.

Wrong: $50 dollars
Right: $50
Wrong: $50s
Right: $50
Usage: She paid fifty dollars for the book.

Spacing and hyphenation (keep it tidy)

No space between symbol and number in English. Hyphenate spelled-out amounts when they modify a noun; if you use the symbol as a modifier, keep the symbol before the number and omit an extra hyphen.

No space: $1,000; not $ 1,000.
Adjectival hyphen: a five-dollar fee, a ten-pound fine.
Modifier with symbol: a $5 fee (not $5-fee).

Wrong: $ 100
Right: $100
Wrong: a $5-dollar fee
Right: a $5 fee
Right: a five-dollar fee
Wrong: 10 dollar-notes
Right: 10-dollar notes

International exceptions and currency codes

Some languages and regional styles put the symbol after the number (for example, French often uses 100 €). For English readers, stick with symbol-first; use ISO codes when you need cross-border clarity.

European practice may use a space with the euro: 100 € - not standard in English.
Use USD 100 or EUR 80 when multiple currencies appear or symbols might be ambiguous.
If symbols might break in a system, prefer the ISO code: USD 100 instead of $100.

Usage: French print: 100 € - but in English copy use €100.
Usage: International report: USD 100, EUR 80 (use ISO codes in tables).
Usage: If symbols may not render, write USD 100.

Real usage by context: work, school, casual

Match format to audience: business favors symbols for brevity, academic work often spells amounts out, casual messaging only needs consistency.

Work: symbols in invoices and subject lines; ISO codes in multi-currency contracts.
School: spell out amounts in essays; use symbols in tables and data citations.
Casual: either is fine-choose one form and be consistent within the message.

Work - Wrong: Please invoice me for 2500$.
Work - Right: Please invoice me for $2,500.
Work - Wrong: Budget: 30000$ approved.
Work - Right: Budget: $30,000 approved.
School - Wrong: The lab fee is 45€.
School - Right: The lab fee is €45.
School - Wrong: I earned 10 dollars on the project.
School - Right: I earned $10 on the project.
Casual - Wrong: I spent 20£ on lunch.
Casual - Right: I spent £20 on lunch.
Casual - Wrong: Got coffee for 3 $.
Casual - Right: Got coffee for $3.

Try your own sentence

Check the entire sentence rather than isolating the amount; context often dictates the best form. Paste a short sentence into a quick editor to confirm symbol position and spacing.

Examples you can copy: quick rewrites

Short, copyable rewrites for emails, invoices, and essays. Swap the number or currency as needed.

Prefer symbol-first for business: change "100 dollars" to "$100" when space is limited.
If a document has multiple currencies, write "USD 100" at first mention, then "$100" if context is clear.

Original: The fee is 5 USD.
Rewrite: The fee is $5.
Original: She gave me 100 dollars.
Rewrite: She gave me $100.
Original: A 10 pound note.
Rewrite: a £10 note
Original: 100,00 € (European style).
Rewrite: €100
Original: We charge 7.50 dollars per item.
Rewrite: We charge $7.50 per item.
Original: cost: 1 200 kr (local formatting).
Rewrite: cost: SEK 1,200 (for English readers)

How to fix your own sentence: three-step checklist

Use this quick checklist when you see a currency amount in a draft or message.

Step 1: Put the symbol before the number. Change 100$ → $100.
Step 2: Remove spaces between symbol and number. Change $ 50 → $50.
Step 3: For modifiers, hyphenate spelled-out amounts: a five-dollar fee; with a symbol write a $5 fee.

Wrong: I spent 75 $ at the store.
Right: I spent $75 at the store.
Wrong: She bought a 20-euro sweater.
Right: She bought a €20 sweater.
Wrong: Payment: 1.000,50 €
Right: Payment: €1,000.50 (for US English readers) or 1.000,50 € (if writing for that locale)

Similar mistakes to watch for

When proofreading, check these related errors so your document remains consistent and clear.

Do not pluralize symbols: write $50, not $50s.
Do not combine symbol and word in the same phrase: write $50 or 50 dollars, not $50 dollars.
Watch decimal and thousands separators by audience: US English uses 1,000.50; many European styles use 1.000,50.
Avoid duplicated currency markers: write €100 or EUR 100, not EUR €100.

Wrong: $50s
Right: $50
Wrong: $50 dollars
Right: $50 or fifty dollars
Wrong: EUR €100 for the fee
Right: EUR 100 or €100

Memory trick: quick rules to remember

Remember: "Symbol first, no space; hyphen for words when modifying." Use the three templates below to fix most cases instantly.

Template 1 (numeric, symbol): $[number] - e.g., $25, $1,200.50
Template 2 (spelled-out modifier): [number-word]-dollar [noun] - e.g., a ten-dollar fine
Template 3 (international clarity): [CUR] [number] - e.g., USD 100, EUR 80

Tip: Mistake: 30€ → Fix: €30
Tip: Mistake: $ 7 → Fix: $7
Tip: Mistake: $20 dollars → Fix: $20 or twenty dollars

FAQ

Should the dollar sign go before or after the number?

In English, the dollar sign goes before the number: $100. Some other languages place the sign after the number; follow the symbol-first rule for English unless a style guide directs otherwise.

Is there a space between the currency symbol and the number?

No. In English there's normally no space: $100, £50. A space is common in some regional practices (for example, 100 €) but not standard for English prose.

When should I use USD 100 instead of $100?

Use an ISO code like USD 100 when writing for an international audience, when multiple currencies appear in the same document, or when symbols might not render correctly.

How do I write amounts when the currency is used as an adjective?

Hyphenate spelled-out modifiers: a five-dollar fee, a ten-pound note. If you prefer the symbol, write a $5 fee.

Is it OK to write '50 dollars' instead of '$50' in an essay?

Yes. Spelling out amounts can read more naturally in essays. Be consistent: use words in running text and symbols in tables or financial documents.

Want a quick fix for your sentence?

Paste a single sentence into an editor and apply the three-step checklist: symbol first, no space, hyphenate spelled-out modifiers. For instant help, paste the sentence here and get a suggested correction you can copy.