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Large numbers and currency symbols in screen readers

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From: Robison, Cole [EISU]
Date: May 6, 2009 9:30AM

I'm looking for some insight in how to best optimize the representation
of large dollar figures in alt text, particularly with respect to how
screen readers typically handle the various alternatives.

I've been presented with a proposed alt attribute value containing a
familiar shorthand representation like:

$508M

I assume that the "M" for "million" could be confusing, and that
spelling it out would be better:

$508 million

But I wonder how this compares to doing so numerically:

$508,000,000

Is one approach preferred over the other?

(And if the full numerical representation is used, is it better to
include or exclude the commas?)

I also wonder about the dollar sign: is it read before the number, as
written, or do screen readers make the adjustment to read it as the word
"dollars" after the number? (And if they do, would the number, followed
by a space, followed by the word "million" trip it up? That is, would
"$508 million" become "five hundred eight dollars million"?) In short,
would it be better to replace the dollar sign with the word "dollars"
after the figure?

These, then, are the various possibilities:

a) $508 M
b) $508 million
c) $508,000,000
d) $508000000
e) 508 M dollars
f) 508 million dollars
g) 508,000,000 dollars
h) 508000000 dollars

Which is best?

Thanks,

Cole Robison
Director of Statewide Web/IT Accessibility
Division of Information Systems and Communications
State of Kansas
<EMAIL REMOVED>
(785) 291-3016