It’s About Time: Ways to Convey the Passage of Time (and Dates) in Your Novel

The way you write numbers, times, and dates affects how smooth your story feels, and staying consistent—as we always advise you—starts with locking in clear rules from the beginning.

Photo by Mat Brown

Numbers, Times, and Dates Shape Better Narratives

These elements might seem like small details, but they quietly shape how believable a story feels. In fiction, consistency matters just as much as creativity. Following Chicago-style conventions helps your writing stay readable and professional without pulling readers out of the moment.

Writers often get tripped up by whether to spell out numbers, when to use numerals, or how to format years and times on the page. These choices affect pacing and clarity more than most people realize. When rules aren’t consistent, the story can feel messy, even if the writing itself is strong.

Once you understand the basic guidelines for numbers, times, and dates, you gain control over how information flows and how your story lands emotionally.

Numbers in Fiction

In most fiction, Chicago style prefers spelling out whole numbers from one through one hundred, as well as round numbers, while using numerals for technical references. This approach keeps the prose conversational, especially in narrative passages.

Compare these examples:

She waited three days before calling him again.

She waited 3 days before calling him again.

The first feels more natural in storytelling. The second feels factual, almost report-like. That difference matters. Numerals make sense when clarity is at stake: measurements, ages in technical contexts, dates, addresses, or statistics. The key is not picking one approach randomly, but applying the same logic throughout the manuscript.

Time on the Page

Time expressions follow a similar rule: spell them out when they feel narrative; use numerals when precision matters.

Chicago style generally prefers spelling out times like seven o’clock or half past nine in prose, while numerals work better with a.m. and p.m.

For example:

They met at seven o’clock that morning.

The train arrived at 7:45 p.m.

Both are correct. They just serve different purposes. Narrative moments lean toward spelled-out time. Schedules and exact moments lean toward numerals. Switching styles mid-chapter without reason can slow the reader down in the worst way.

Avoid redundant construction:

They met at 7 a.m. that morning.

The train arrived at night at seven forty-five p.m

Dates and Years

Dates and years should feel invisible, not distracting. In fiction, years are usually written as numerals, while full dates follow a consistent format.

For example:

She was born in 1996.

They met on June 14, 2012. (American format)

Avoid redundant construction and mixed format:

She was born in the year 1996.

They met on June fourteenth, 2012.

Spelling out years or mixing formats tends to stand out more than it should. The goal is clarity without calling attention to the mechanics.

Flashbacks, timelines, and historical references especially benefit from clean, predictable formatting. Readers should focus on what the moment means.

Writing with Intention (and Fewer Headaches)

Choose a clear approach to numbers, times, and dates early on, and commit to it. Authors draft fast and fix issues later. However, most consistency issues come from authors not knowing the rules. They focus on writing their craft.

If you find yourself slipping, it’s usually for one of two reasons:

• You haven’t fully decided which conventions you’re following.

• The books you’ve been reading recently use a different style, and it’s rubbing off on you.

  
  

Both are normal. It happens to everyone. We understand this! That’s why we have editors here for you to do that quick fix.

So here’s a quick tip: During revisions, scan specifically for numbers, times, and dates. When something feels off, clean these details up. This is one of the easiest ways to level up a manuscript from good to publication-ready.

Mastering story structure gets readers invested. Mastering the details (according to CMOS) is what keeps them immersed.

If you have finished your story and want to be sure your formats are consistent and effective, we’re here to help. Send your manuscript to themanuscripteditor.com for a complimentary 800-word sample edit now.