How to Write an Amount in Words on a Cheque

Writing the amount in words on a cheque is the part people hesitate over — partly because the rules are conventions rather than law, and partly because the lakh and crore system does not translate neatly into the million and billion one. Getting it wrong can mean the cheque is returned.

Why cheques ask for words at all

The words are a check against tampering. A figure written as 5,000 can be altered to 15,000 with one stroke of a pen; "Five Thousand Rupees Only" cannot. This is why, when the figures and the words disagree, banks in most countries — including Sri Lanka and India — pay the amount written in words. The words are the legal amount.

The standard format

The convention on a Sri Lankan or Indian cheque is:

Rupees One Lakh Twenty Five Thousand Only

Four things matter:

• Start with the currency. "Rupees" first, then the number.
• End with "Only". This closes the line so nothing can be added after it. It is the single most important habit — a cheque without it can have words appended.
• Draw a line through any leftover space to the end of the field, for the same reason.
• Capitalise each word. Convention rather than requirement, but it is what banks expect and it reads more deliberately.

Select the rupees option and press the cheque format button — you get the line exactly as it should be written, ending in Only.

What about the cents

When the amount has cents, write them out too:

Rupees Two Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty Cents Only

For a round amount, many people write "and Cents Zero Only" or simply leave it out. Leaving it out is fine and more common; what matters is that the figure box and the words agree.

Lakh and crore versus million and billion

This is where most confusion lives. The two systems group digits differently.

The grouping of the digits differs too. International writing puts a comma every three digits (1,000,000). South Asian writing groups the first three, then every two (10,00,000). Both appear on Sri Lankan documents depending on who prepared them.

Which should you use on a cheque? Whichever your bank and your recipient will read naturally. In Sri Lanka and India, lakh and crore are standard for domestic cheques. For an international transfer or an invoice going abroad, use million.

Invoices, not just cheques

The same wording convention appears on invoices, receipts, contracts, promissory notes and customs declarations. On an invoice the words usually sit under the total as "Amount in words:" and follow exactly the same rules — currency first, Only at the end.

Mistakes that get a cheque returned

1. Words and figures that disagree. The most common reason for return. Always write the figures first, then convert them, rather than writing both from memory.
2. Missing "Only". Some banks accept it, some query it, and it leaves the cheque open to alteration either way.
3. Space left after the words. Always strike through to the end of the line.
4. Overwriting a mistake. Never correct an amount by writing over it. Void the cheque and write a new one — banks reject altered amounts even when initialled.
5. A different currency than the account. Write "Rupees" on a rupee account, not "Rs." and not a symbol.

Frequently asked questions