A check is a written order to pay someone a specific amount of money on a certain date. Here are the basic steps of how to properly write out a personal check with dollars and cents.

 

STEP 1

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DATE
Today’s date. Include the month, day, and year.

 

STEP 2

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PAY TO
The name of the recipient: the individual or company that you are writing the check to.

 

STEP 3

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$ AMOUNT
The amount of the check in numerals, with cents after the decimal.  Begin as close as possible to the $.  If cents are zero, be sure to write .00

 

STEP 4

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AMOUNT
The amount of the check in long-form in words, the word ‘and’, and then cents, which is written as a fraction as cents/100.  Start at the left edge, and draw a line through the remaining space.

 

STEP 5

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MEMO/FOR
Optional field to describe the reason for the check, or an account number.

 

STEP 6

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SIGNATURE
Your signature.  Use the same signature on all your bank documents.

 

 

More Check Writing Lessons

More Checking Account and Check Writing Lessons.