two-by-fours but one-by-12s?

[Kathi7501]

I'm editing a story that refers to lumber shipping. I know to present 2x4s as two-by-fours, but what about 1x12s? Should it be one-by-twelves or one-by-12s?

Thanks!

[kstieffel]

The AP Stylebook (under "dimensions") advises using figures. One example given is "9-by-12 rug."

[Kathi7501]

I saw that, but in this case it's being used as a noun (as specified in the two-by-four entry), not as an adjective (as in the dimensions entry). And this is exactly where I got confused.

[kstieffel]

D'oh -- misunderstood the question. Obviously I'm confused as well!

It seems to me that if you're writing about two-by-fours and one-by-twelves in the same story, that's how it should be done. One-by-12 just looks weird.

But then, I'm used to CMS, which calls for spelling out most numbers. Sorry, that's not much help.