How to Write an Amount in Words on a Cheque
A cheque carries the amount twice: in figures in the box, and in words on the line, such as "One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars and Fifty Cents Only". The words are harder to alter, but they are also where most mistakes happen: hyphens, the cents, and gaps someone could fill in. This guide walks through filling in a cheque, and the Amount in Words Converter writes any amount for you in English or Arabic.
Filling in a cheque, step by step
- Date: write the full date, such as 15 November 2026 or 11/15/2026 in the US format.
- Payee: on the "Pay to the order of" line, write the person's or company's full legal name.
- Amount in figures: in the box, start right next to the currency sign and include the decimals: 1,250.50. For currencies with three decimals, such as the Jordanian or Kuwaiti dinar, write 1,250.500.
- Amount in words: start at the far left of the line, end with "Only", and draw a line through the space that's left.
- Signature: sign the way you signed for your bank. Add a memo, such as an invoice number, if there is a line for it.
How to write the amount in words
| Figures | In words |
|---|---|
| $1,250.50 | One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty US Dollars and Fifty Cents Only |
| $1,250.50 (US fraction style) | One thousand two hundred fifty and 50/100 dollars |
| $49.99 | Forty-Nine US Dollars and Ninety-Nine Cents Only |
| $2,000.00 | Two Thousand US Dollars Only |
| JOD 1,250.500 | One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Jordanian Dinars and Five Hundred Fils Only |
| SAR 15.75 | Fifteen Saudi Riyals and Seventy-Five Halalas Only |
- Hyphenate 21 to 99: Twenty-One, Forty-Five, Ninety-Nine.
- Group by thousands: 1,245 is One Thousand Two Hundred Forty-Five, never "Twelve Hundred Forty-Five".
- Use "and" once, between the main unit and the cents: Twelve Dollars and Fifty Cents. British English often adds it inside the number too (One Hundred and Twenty), and banks accept both.
- Write the cents in words or as a fraction over 100, but don't leave them out. For a whole amount, "Only" or "and 00/100" shows there are no cents.
Three-decimal currencies
The Jordanian, Kuwaiti and Bahraini dinar and the Omani rial are divided into 1,000 fils or baisa, not 100. So JOD 1,000.500 is one thousand dinars and five hundred fils, not fifty. Reading .500 as fifty is the most common mistake on these cheques.
What if the words and figures don't match?
Article 9 of the Geneva Uniform Law for Cheques (1931) says that when the amount in words differs from the amount in figures, the amount in words is payable. When the amount is written more than once in words, or more than once in figures, and the entries differ, the smaller sum is payable. Many countries' cheque laws follow this rule, and US practice is similar: the words generally control.
Don't rely on it, though. A bank may return a cheque with mismatched amounts or hold it until it can confirm the amount. If you make a mistake, write a new cheque, write "VOID" across the wrong one and keep it. Don't correct a cheque by crossing out or writing over the amount.
Keep the cheque safe
- Use a pen with ink that can't be erased.
- Leave no gaps before or after the amount, in the box or on the line.
- Never sign a blank cheque.
- Keep a record of each cheque's number, date, amount and payee.
This guide is general information, not legal or banking advice. Follow your bank's instructions where they differ.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write 1,250.50 on a cheque?
One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars and Fifty Cents Only, or on a US check, One thousand two hundred fifty and 50/100 dollars.
Why write "Only" at the end?
It closes the amount, so nothing can be added after it to raise the sum. Arabic cheques do the same with فقط at the start and لا غير at the end.
Which amount counts if the words and figures differ?
Under the Geneva Uniform Law for Cheques and the laws based on it, the amount in words. But the bank may return the cheque, so it's better to write a new one.
How many decimal places does the Jordanian dinar have?
Three. One dinar is 1,000 fils, so JOD 7.250 is seven dinars and two hundred fifty fils.
Related
- Amount in Words Converter: any amount in English or Arabic words, in dollars, dinars, riyals, dirhams and pounds.
- Percentage Calculator: add or remove VAT before you write the amount.
- Percentage Formulas
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