diff --git a/packages/core/src/systems/en-US/short-count/stringify.ts b/packages/core/src/systems/en-US/short-count/stringify.ts
index 2514838..25ff09d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/systems/en-US/short-count/stringify.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/systems/en-US/short-count/stringify.ts
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ export const mergeTokens = (tokens: string[], options?: MergeTokensOptions) => (
  * Makes a negative string.
  * @param s - The string to make negative.
  */
-export const makeNegative = (s: string) => (
-	`${NEGATIVE} ${s}`
-);
+export const makeNegative = (s: string) => {
+	const negativePrefix = `${NEGATIVE} `;
+	return s.startsWith(negativePrefix) ? s.slice(negativePrefix.length) : `${negativePrefix}${s}`;
+};