Writing Ratios

You must write the ratio in the order it is in the problem. If the problem asks for the ratio of stars to hearts you have to keep the numbers in that order.
So if there are 2 stars and 5 hearts you would write the ratio of stars to hearts as

          2 to 5, 2:5, or $\frac{2}{5}$  

When you read a ratio you always read it as one number to another. Even when it is written with a colon or as a fraction.
6:11 is read as six to eleven