# Format numbers

> Format numbers using the formatNumber function from Shade whenever someone edits a TSX file.

- Skill: `tryghost/format-numbers` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add tryghost/format-numbers`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tryghost/format-numbers/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: TryGhost (https://skillmd.com/u/tryghost)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tryghost/format-numbers

---


# Format Numbers

When editing `.tsx` files, ensure all user-facing numbers are formatted using the `formatNumber` utility from `@tryghost/shade/utils`.

## Import

```typescript
import { formatNumber } from '@tryghost/shade/utils';
```

## When to use formatNumber

Use `formatNumber()` when rendering any numeric value that is displayed to the user, including:

- Member counts, visitor counts, subscriber counts
- Email engagement metrics (opens, clicks, bounces)
- Revenue amounts (combine with `centsToDollars()` for monetary values)
- Post analytics (views, link clicks)
- Any count or quantity shown in UI

## Correct usage

```tsx
<span>{formatNumber(totalMembers)}</span>
<span>{formatNumber(link.count || 0)}</span>
<span>{`${currencySymbol}${formatNumber(centsToDollars(mrr))}`}</span>
<span>{post.members > 0 ? `+${formatNumber(post.members)}` : '0'}</span>
```

## Antipatterns to avoid

Do NOT use any of these patterns for formatting numbers in TSX files:

```tsx
// BAD: raw .toLocaleString()
<span>{count.toLocaleString()}</span>

// BAD: manual Intl.NumberFormat
<span>{new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US').format(count)}</span>

// BAD: raw number without formatting
<span>{memberCount}</span>

// BAD: manual regex formatting
<span>{count.toString().replace(/\B(?=(\d{3})+(?!\d))/g, ',')}</span>
```

## Related utilities

- `formatPercentage()` - for percentages (e.g., open rates, click rates)
- `abbreviateNumber()` - for compact notation (e.g., 1.2M, 50k)
- `centsToDollars()` - convert cents to dollars before passing to `formatNumber`

All are imported from `@tryghost/shade/utils`.