5 ft 4 in — it looks simple, but have you ever wondered why we write it the way we do?
Do you ever see “5'4"” on a form and think, is that even right?
Or maybe you’re typing a bio and want it to look clean, not like a math problem Small thing, real impact..
Let’s untangle the quirks, the conventions, and the little hacks that make “5 feet 4 inches” look professional every time.
What Is “5 feet 4 inches”
When we talk about height, we’re usually mixing two units: feet and inches. In everyday English you’ll hear “five foot four” or “five‑four” in casual speech, but when you need to write it—on a résumé, a medical form, or a sports roster—you have a handful of accepted styles.
The numeric‑only style
- 5'4" – the apostrophe stands for feet, the quotation mark for inches.
- 5′4″ – the same symbols, but using typographic (curly) quotes.
Both are common in the U.and Canada. S. The key is to keep the symbols close to the numbers, no spaces.
The word‑plus‑unit style
- 5 ft 4 in – short, clear, and perfectly fine for most documents.
- 5 feet 4 inches – the fully spelled‑out version, great for formal writing or when you want to avoid any ambiguity.
Hybrid mixes
- 5′ 4″ (space after the prime, none after the double prime) – you’ll see this in engineering drawings.
- 5 ft., 4 in. – some style guides add periods after the abbreviations; others drop them.
All of these mean the same thing, but the context decides which one feels right That's the whole idea..
Why It Matters / Why People Care
Because a height isn’t just a number. It shows up on IDs, medical charts, airline forms, dating profiles, and even legal contracts. A typo can lead to a wrong seat assignment on a flight or a mis‑calculated dosage in a pediatric chart Worth keeping that in mind. That alone is useful..
In practice, the wrong format can look sloppy. Recruiters skim résumés; a messy “5' 4” ” might make them think you didn’t proofread. And let’s be real—people love to spot inconsistencies.
So getting the format right isn’t just about grammar; it’s about credibility, clarity, and sometimes safety.
How It Works (or How to Do It)
Below is the step‑by‑step process for deciding which style to use and then writing it correctly.
1. Identify the audience
- Professional/academic – go with 5 ft 4 in or 5 feet 4 inches.
- Forms or databases – most will accept 5'4" (no spaces).
- Design/engineering – the prime and double‑prime symbols (5′4″) are standard.
If you’re unsure, default to the most universally accepted: 5 ft 4 in Most people skip this — try not to..
2. Choose the symbol set
| Symbol | When to use | Example |
|---|---|---|
' (straight apostrophe) |
Casual forms, most online fields | 5'4" |
′ (curly prime) |
Print, technical drawings | 5′4″ |
ft / in |
Formal prose, legal docs | 5 ft 4 in |
| Full words | Very formal or when abbreviations are banned | 5 feet 4 inches |
3. Apply spacing rules
- No space between the number and its symbol:
5'4"or5′4″. - Space between separate units when using words or abbreviations:
5 ft 4 in. - Avoid extra spaces before the apostrophe or prime; they break the visual flow.
4. Handle plurals correctly
If you write the words out, remember that “feet” is already plural, but “inch” becomes “inches” when the number is not one.
- 5 feet 1 inch – singular “inch”.
- 5 feet 2 inches – plural “inches”.
When you use abbreviations, the “s” disappears: 5 ft 1 in, 5 ft 2 in.
5. Use the right case for abbreviations
Most style guides recommend lower‑case for ft and in unless they start a sentence Most people skip this — try not to..
- ✅ “She is 5 ft 4 in tall.”
- ❌ “She is 5 Ft 4 In tall.”
6. Keep consistency across a document
If you write “5 ft 4 in” in the first paragraph, keep that format throughout. Switching to “5'4"” midway looks like a copy‑paste error That's the part that actually makes a difference..
7. Test on the platform
Some web forms strip special characters. Consider this: if you type 5′4″ and it turns into 5?? Practically speaking, 4?? , fall back to 5'4" or the word version.
Common Mistakes / What Most People Get Wrong
- Mixing symbols and words – “5 ft 4” (missing “in”) or “5' 4 in”. It’s a visual mismatch that confuses readers.
- Adding a space before the apostrophe – “5 '4” looks like a typo.
- Using the wrong quote marks – straight double quotes (
") are for inches, but many people mistakenly use a single double quote for feet. - Forgetting the plural – “5 foot 4 inches” is technically wrong; “foot” is singular.
- Over‑capitalizing – “5 FT 4 IN” screams “shouty” and isn’t standard.
The short version is: pick a style, stick to it, and watch the little details Simple, but easy to overlook..
Practical Tips / What Actually Works
- Copy‑paste a template – Keep a tiny snippet in your notes:
5 ft 4 in. When you need it, just replace the numbers. - Use the right keyboard shortcut – On Windows,
Alt+0146gives you a curly apostrophe; on Mac,Option+'does the prime. - Set your word processor’s auto‑format – Turn on “replace straight quotes with smart quotes” if you prefer the typographic primes.
- Check the form’s validation – Some online fields only accept numbers, so you might have to enter
5.33(feet as a decimal) instead. Convert by dividing inches by 12 (4 ÷ 12 = 0.33). - When in doubt, spell it out – “5 feet 4 inches” never looks out of place, no matter the audience.
FAQ
Q: Should I write “5 ft 4 in” or “5 ft., 4 in.”?
A: Most modern style guides drop the periods. Use “5 ft 4 in” unless a specific style manual (like Chicago) tells you otherwise Small thing, real impact. No workaround needed..
Q: Is “5'4” acceptable without the inch symbol?
A: Not really. The double quote (or prime) tells the reader you’re talking about inches. Leaving it off can be misread as a foot‑only measurement That's the part that actually makes a difference..
Q: How do I write height in metric?
A: Convert the total inches to centimeters (1 in = 2.54 cm). For 5 ft 4 in: (5 × 12 + 4) = 64 in → 64 × 2.54 ≈ 162.6 cm. Write “162 cm” or “1.63 m” That's the part that actually makes a difference. And it works..
Q: My phone autocorrect keeps changing 5'4" to 5’4”. Is that a problem?
A: No. The curly prime (’) is typographically nicer and perfectly acceptable. Just make sure the double prime follows (″) Simple, but easy to overlook. That alone is useful..
Q: Can I write “5‑4” as a shorthand?
A: Only in informal contexts like texting. In any formal or public document, it’s ambiguous and should be avoided.
So there you have it. Whether you’re filling out a sports roster, polishing a résumé, or just updating your dating profile, the right way to write 5 feet 4 inches is now clear. Pick a style, stay consistent, and you’ll never trip over a stray apostrophe again. Happy writing!
Now that you’ve mastered the mechanics, it’s worth thinking about the broader context in which you’ll use the measurement. In a résumé, for instance, recruiters often scan quickly; a clean “5 ft 4 in” signals professionalism without distracting punctuation. On top of that, in contrast, a casual social‑media bio can afford a friendlier tone — perhaps “5'4” with a smiley emoji — because the audience expects informality. Even in technical documentation, where numbers are parsed by software, consistency matters more than stylistic flair; a uniform format across all height fields prevents downstream errors when the data is exported or filtered Worth keeping that in mind..
A final tip that often slips through the cracks is to consider the audience’s expectations. If you’re writing for an international readership, adding the metric conversion in parentheses can be a courteous touch: “5 ft 4 in (162 cm).Also, ” This not only eliminates ambiguity but also demonstrates thoughtfulness toward readers who may be more comfortable with the metric system. Likewise, when the measurement appears in a narrative — say, describing a character’s stature — pairing it with a descriptive phrase can make the detail feel natural rather than a sterile data point: “She stood at 5 ft 4 in, a height that gave her a graceful presence on the stage And it works..
In short, the way you write “5 feet 4 inches” is a small but telling detail that reflects attention to craft. In practice, choose a style that aligns with your purpose, apply it consistently, and let the surrounding context guide any supplemental choices. With those habits in place, you’ll convey height with confidence, clarity, and a touch of polish that leaves a positive impression every time. Happy writing!
When Height Meets Data: Practical Formatting Tips
| Context | Preferred Format | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Professional résumé / CV | 5 ft 4 in (or 5′ 4″) |
Clean, no extra punctuation, easy for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to parse. On top of that, |
| Academic paper / technical report | 5 ft 4 in (162 cm) or 162 cm only |
Provides both imperial and metric, satisfies journal style guides that often require SI units. Because of that, |
| Social media / dating profile | 5'4" or 5′4″ with an emoji |
Casual, space‑saving, visually friendly; emojis add personality without sacrificing readability. Think about it: |
| Legal / government form | 5 ft 4 in (no symbols) |
Many form‑validation scripts only accept alphanumeric characters; spelling out the units avoids rejection. |
| Design / graphic layout | 5′ 4″ in a stylized typeface |
The curly primes look polished in print or on a logo, and they scale well in vector graphics. |
A quick checklist before you hit “Send”
- Match the surrounding style – If the document already uses
ft/in, stay with that. Switching mid‑document looks sloppy. - Watch the space – The most widely accepted convention is a single space between the number and the unit (
5 ft 4 in). Avoid double spaces or no spaces (5ft4in) unless a style guide explicitly says so. - Beware of auto‑formatters – Word processors, spreadsheet apps, and even some email clients will automatically convert
5'4"to the curly‑prime version or to a “smart quote.” Double‑check the final output, especially if you’re exporting to PDF or HTML. - Include the metric conversion when needed – For international audiences, place the metric equivalent in parentheses right after the imperial measurement.
- Test for machine readability – If the height will be ingested by a database, make sure the field accepts the format you’re using (e.g.,
5'4"may need to be stored as5-4or64inches).
The Bigger Picture: Why a Tiny Detail Matters
You might wonder why we spend so much effort on something as seemingly trivial as the way we write “5 feet 4 inches.” The answer lies in the intersection of communication clarity, brand perception, and technical accuracy.
- Clarity – A uniform height notation eliminates the mental gymnastics a reader must perform to decode “5‑4,” “5.4,” or “5 ft 4 in.” The fewer the cognitive steps, the faster the information is absorbed.
- Brand perception – In a résumé, that extra ounce of typographic precision can be the subconscious cue that tells a recruiter, “I pay attention to details.” In a marketing brochure, a well‑styled
5′ 4″can reinforce a sleek, modern aesthetic. - Technical accuracy – When data is transferred between systems—say, from a spreadsheet to a CRM—consistent formatting reduces the risk of parsing errors that could corrupt a dataset or, in a worst‑case scenario, produce an incorrect calculation (e.g., converting 5.4 ft to 5.4 inches).
In short, the “small things” often have outsized effects. Mastering the proper way to write a height measurement is a micro‑skill that pays dividends across personal, professional, and technical domains And that's really what it comes down to..
Conclusion
Writing “5 feet 4 inches” isn’t just about picking a random combination of symbols; it’s about context, consistency, and audience awareness. Whether you opt for the clean 5 ft 4 in, the typographically elegant 5′ 4″, or the ultra‑concise 5'4"—the key is to:
- Choose a style that matches your medium (formal, informal, technical, visual).
- Apply it uniformly throughout the document or platform.
- Add metric equivalents when appropriate to respect global readers.
- Double‑check automated formatting to ensure the final output matches your intention.
By internalizing these guidelines, you’ll never stumble over a stray apostrophe or an ambiguous shorthand again. Your writing will convey height with the same confidence and polish you bring to every other detail—leaving readers, recruiters, and algorithms alike with a crystal‑clear impression That alone is useful..
So the next time you need to note a stature, remember: a well‑written “5 ft 4 in (162 cm)” is more than a number; it’s a subtle signal of professionalism and thoughtfulness. Happy writing, and may your measurements always be spot‑on It's one of those things that adds up..
