writing style - Correct form for a page range?

Is, for example, "pp. 1567–93" an acceptable way to denote pages 1567 through 1593? In what contexts must you always write it in long form "pp. 1567–1593" instead? Also, what about in the case of smaller numbers, e.g. "pp. 54–7," or more complicated ranges, e.g. "pp. 6, 23–5, 7, 67–8, 94–117"?

Answer

The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition (2003), has very clear preferences, which it lists at section 9.64 (rules paraphrased from a table):

For ranges starting with a page number of 1 through 100 (or multiples of 100), use all digits of the end-range number: 3–10, 71–72, 96–117, 100–104, 1100–1113

For ranges starting with a page number of 101 through 109, 201 through 209, and so on, use only the changed part of the end-range number: 101–8, 1103–4

For ranges starting with a page number of110 through 199, 210 through 299, and so on, use two or more digits of the end-range number, as needed: 321–28. 498–532, 1087–89, 11564–615

But if three digits of a four-digit first page number change in the four-digit end-range number, use all four digits of the second number: 1496–1504, 2787–2816

Words into Type, Third Edition (1974), adopts a more flexible approach to inclusive numbering style:

Inclusive page numbers may be given in full ("413–415") or elided ("413–15"); either way, when type is set an en dash, not a hyphen, should be used. There are different styles of elision; whichever is chosen, the indexer should be consistent. The following is a suggested way: Omit from the second number the digit(s) representing hundreds, except when the first number ends in two zeros, in which case the second number should be given in full. If the next-to-last digit in the first number is a zero, only one digit is necessary after the en dash.

8–10, 22–23, 100–102, 107–9, 119–21, 133–34, 1074–76

Interestingly, however, the Words into Type "suggested way" of handling inclusive page numbers matches the Chicago method point for point.

Other styles, of course, differ. Thus, for example, the MLA Style Manual (as represented in the Koinonia Academy "MLA Citation Guide") rejects the Chicago rule that would render "pages 102 through 103" as "102–3":

1. Treat inclusive page numbers in text citations and in the list of works cited as follows: 67–68, 102–03, 237–42, 389–421.

Similarly, the North Dakota Supreme Court Citation Manual, which is based on the Harvard Blue Book legal citation style guide insists that the last two digits of a page range should always be retained (though it doesn't offer an example along the lines of "102–03"):

Multiple pages, footnotes, sections, and paragraphs: When citing material that spans more than one page, give the inclusive page numbers, separated by a hyphen or dash. Always retain at least the last two digits, but drop repetitious digits.

*Proper:* 789-90.   *Improper:* 789-790.
*Proper:* 789-801.  *Improper:* 1012-3.
*Proper:* 1012-13.

This guide also accepts hyphens or en dashes as punctuation for inclusive page numbers.