MOS:CURRENCY

MOS:CURRENCY

The "MOS:CURRENCY" is a guideline within the Wikipedia Manual of Style that provides instructions on how to properly format and present currency information in Wikipedia articles. This guideline ensures consistency and clarity when dealing with monetary values across the vast array of articles on Wikipedia.

Guidelines

The MOS:CURRENCY guideline covers several key aspects of currency representation:

Currency Symbols

Currency symbols should be used in conjunction with the amount, and they should precede the number without a space. For example, "$10" or "€5". However, when the currency symbol is not universally recognized, it is preferable to use the ISO 4217 currency code, such as "USD 10" or "EUR 5".

Currency Codes

When writing about currencies that are not widely recognized, or when the context requires clarity, the three-letter ISO 4217 currency codes should be used. For example, "JPY 1000" for Japanese yen or "INR 500" for Indian rupees.

Decimal Points and Thousands Separators

The use of decimal points and thousands separators should follow the conventions of the English-speaking world, which typically means using a period as a decimal point and a comma as a thousands separator. For example, "$1,000.50".

Currency Conversion

When providing currency conversions, it is important to specify the date of the conversion rate used, as exchange rates fluctuate over time. Conversions should be provided in parentheses immediately following the original amount, e.g., "£100 (approximately $130 as of January 2023)".

Historical Currencies

For historical currencies, it is important to specify the time period during which the currency was in use. Additionally, if the currency has been replaced, the successor currency should be mentioned.

Currency in Text

When writing about currency in prose, it is often clearer to spell out the currency name, especially for the first occurrence. For example, "ten US dollars" or "fifty euros".

Examples

- Correct: "The item costs $20." - Correct: "The price was €15." - Correct: "The budget was JPY 1,000,000." - Incorrect: "The cost is 20$."

Also see

- MOS:NUM - MOS:DATE - ISO 4217 - Currency - Exchange rate