Such abbreviations as are in common use may be used, and numbers may be expressed by figures or numerals in the customary manner.
§ 186.Abbreviations and figures
Title 2. Judicial Officers · Chapter 5. Miscellaneous Provisions Respecting Courts of Justice · Enacted 1872 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 186 permits California court documents to use common abbreviations and to express numbers as figures or numerals rather than spelling them out in full, following ordinary customary usage.
Full Text of § 186
Plain-English Summary
Section 186 is a small drafting convenience. It confirms that a document does not need to spell out every word or number to be valid — abbreviations that are already in common use are acceptable, and numbers can be written as figures or numerals rather than spelled out in full, following ordinary customary usage.
This kind of rule matters because rigid formality requirements can trip up an otherwise valid filing over nothing more than a stylistic choice. Section 186 removes that risk for the ordinary shorthand people already use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a court document use "10" instead of "ten"?
Yes. Section 186 allows numbers to be expressed as figures or numerals in the customary manner rather than spelled out.
Are common abbreviations allowed in filings?
Yes. Section 186 permits abbreviations that are in common use.
Amendment History
Enacted 1872; Repealed and re-enacted Code Amdts 1880 ch 35 § 1.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: ccp 186 abbreviations and figurescan numbers be used instead of words in court documents california