# Do I really need to write out the value on a check?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-really-need-to-write-out-the-value-on-a-check/614221>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 28, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-really-need-to-write-out-the-value-on-a-check/614221 "2012-02-28T03:47:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-really-need-to-write-out-the-value-on-a-check/614221/41 "2012-03-03T03:47:27Z")

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Not true, I’m going to change it from 14/100 to 14000000000000/100. I’ll be rich!

Back in college for one year the parking/bus pass was $121 a year and I had to mail in a check. The first quarter instead of writing out the amount I wrote “eleven squared” (my rebellion threshold was low back then). It cleared without issue so I did it the next two quarters.

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**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-really-need-to-write-out-the-value-on-a-check/614221/42 "2012-03-03T13:16:00Z")

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> [@Hail\_Ants](#):
>
> It must have been Jerry Seinfeld who did a bit about when a friend gives you a check and they still insist on drawing that line after the amount words so that you can’t scribble in _“and a jillion dollars”…_ 😃

That line is notionally called a “negamegalinium”.

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**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-really-need-to-write-out-the-value-on-a-check/614221/43 "2012-03-03T16:48:45Z")

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As has been noted, under UCC 3 the written amount will be dispositive in the event of a dispute.

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