On average every 1.3rd or 1.3th something?

Question

What is the correct formulation for a decimal ordinal number?

Hah! I knew I would find it sooner or later!

Google for: "0.75th quantile"

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– Kit Z. Fox ♦
Commented Jun 2, 2014 at 15:45 — Kit Z. Fox, Commented Jun 2, 2014 at 15:45

oerkelens · Accepted Answer · 2014-05-28 12:24:32Z

11

I would simply avoid the use of ordinals that are not whole numbers. They make no sense, and they can easily be avoided.

If there is a line of people, I cannot say that I pick every 1.5th person.

Every suggests you actually identify an individual occurrence of something, which can never be the 1.1st occurrence.

Change the phrase to something like

10 out of 11 (for 1.1)
10 out of 13 (for 1.3)
2 out of 3 (for 1.5)

answered May 28, 2014 at 12:24

oerkelens

36.7k8 gold badges104 silver badges132 bronze badges

well, that's not exactly an answer. an answer might be "there is no way to express this - not even in colloquial language."
– Raffael
Commented Jun 2, 2014 at 17:42
1

@Raffael: If it makes it clearer, I will rephrase what I wrote: "Ordinals that are not whole number make no sense and should not be used." Since they make no sense, there is no "this" in "there is no way to express this".
– oerkelens
Commented Jun 2, 2014 at 17:52
you really think that a language can only express what makes sense? Wittgenstein would have been a happier man with more time for parties and friends ...
– Raffael
Commented Jun 2, 2014 at 17:58
@Raffael No, I do not think that. However, if you want to convey a meaning to "every 1.1st item", you should definitely explain what that meaning is, as the meaning is not obvious. At least Wittgenstein gave it a try - although his success is debatable :P
– oerkelens
Commented Jun 2, 2014 at 18:05
it's a completely intuitive concept - like a "hot nerd" is a "herd" ...
– Raffael
Commented Jun 2, 2014 at 18:07

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Raffael · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-25 20:00:03Z

1

Googling for "0.3th quantile" and "0.3rd quantile" reveals that both options are used in scientific literature.

answered Jun 25, 2014 at 20:00

Raffael

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Doesn't mean they're both right.... ;)
– Shokhet
Commented Jun 25, 2014 at 20:16

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