Questions tagged [numbers]
Questions relating to the use of numbers or numerals in English.
563
questions
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Pronunciation of numbers in address [closed]
When I say the name of a street with “at”, like “at 12 Oxford St”, should I pronounce the number as cardinal or ordinal? And if it is ordinal, do I get it right that it still must always be written ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Spelling out number ranges?
Unless the style guide I am using says otherwise, I always spell out numbers less than 11 ("We have 7 new customers" = "We have seven new customers") unless it's a percentage or an ...
0
votes
0answers
40 views
Repetition of “one” as number and pronoun
I am wondering about repetitions related to the use of the word one as a pronoun and as a number inside an adjectival compound.
Here are two examples:
My friend ordered a two-scoop cone, while a got ...
0
votes
2answers
81 views
Squared edge lengths [duplicate]
Can I also say:
The energy is based on edge length squared.
Adjectives usually go before a noun, but maybe here 'squared' can be treated also as a verb or a postpositive adjective?
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Are quantities of units considered singular or plural? [duplicate]
Whenever I recite recipes or measurements in my head, the quantity of units is usually plural, but I find myself using singular verbs. For instance, "three cups of butter yields 12 batches" ...
4
votes
2answers
235 views
Why is it 'three score years and ten' almost half the time and not always 'three score and ten years'?
Why is it 'three score years and ten' almost half the time and not always 'three score and ten years'?
Note: I edited the question body and title in light of comments and answers pointing me to a ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Compact writing of “1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 and 36-month survival was analysed”
I have an academic paper abstract to write and it has very limited word count (150 words). I have to say that we analysed 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 and 36-month survival of the included patients in this ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Symbol indicating a value equal to or greater than a number
I am working on translation of numbers and came across this representation of "5 or greater" as "5+". My question is whether or not there is a term for the "+" sign that ...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
Minimizing the Number of Syllables when Pronouncing Years
Question
Do native English speakers minimize the number of syllables when they pronounce years?
Furthermore, is there linguistics/psychology literature on this phenomenon?
Observations
Here is a ...
-3
votes
1answer
125 views
What is it called when people, e.g. computer programmers, pronounce, say, 65,536 as 'sixty-five, five, thirty-six' i.e. omitting 'thousands' etc?
I heard on ELU that computer programmers often pronounce long numbers like that. What is that method of saying the numbers called? How common is it? What is the point of it? What are the pros and cons ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
Date: Month and Day To Use TH or Not [closed]
March 15 had never been that cold. It amazed me. Was global warming fake?
March 15th had never been that cold. It amazed me. Was global warming fake?
Which one is correct when writing a short story.
0
votes
0answers
71 views
Are there words that specify that a number was pronounced 'six double zero ' vs 'six zero zero'? [duplicate]
Are there words that specify that a number, say 600 was or is to be pronounced 'six double zero ' vs 'six zero zero'?
How about six double oh vs six oh oh? Would that be the same word?
How about when ...
1
vote
2answers
139 views
How do I say whether or not a number was pronounced like a telephone number (or zip code). Are there words for this?
501 can be pronounced 'five hundred one' or 'five zero one'. How do I tell someone how it was pronounced without saying the number. The best I've come up with is 'normal style' vs 'zip code style'. ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
Is it proper to start a sentence with an Arabic numeral? [duplicate]
For example: 3 monkeys jump on the bed.
0
votes
1answer
82 views
Why not elevenst, twelvend, and thirteenrd?
Base-10 integers, when used as adjectives to express order, add a "st", "nd", "rd", and "th" suffix to whatever the number is, depending on whether the ones ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
She's worth two of him
A similar structure to She's worth two of him is used in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
Is this still grammatical? Is it related to that makes two/?four of us?
TWO: https://oed.com/oed2/00260784
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Many hundreds more students
Is many hundreds more students grammatically correct? I'm wondering about the lack of the preposition of and what PoS are hundreds and more.
Otherwise, where would of be placed?
I am comparing the ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
how to describe a set of strings with various types of format [closed]
In my scientific experiment, the measurement of equipment may appear as follows 1’’-2’’, 3”:4”, [1”, 2”], or (1”:2”), etc.
I would like to describe this fact in an article. What is the best way to ...
1
vote
2answers
59 views
Word for a number without formatting
I have two representations of numbers, one is with thousands separators that are localized based on country so 1,234,567.89 for English and 1.234.567,89 for German, for example. This representation I'...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Saying a period of time of -ties (ex: the 80s to 90s) for a research paper correctly
I'm trying to write a sentence that mentions a specific period of time, though I'm not sure if I wrote it correctly or not. Here's what I have.
We have succeeded in the era of the 1960s to 1980s
...
0
votes
1answer
155 views
What’s the difference between “to reduce ʙʏ one-third” and “to reduce ɪɴᴛᴏ one-third”?
A sample of fluorine gas occupies a volume of 600 mL at 760 torr.
Given that the temperature remains the same, calculate
the pressure required to reduce its volume by one-third.
I don'...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Determiners in a noun phrase
ALL (determiner)
Used with plural nouns. The noun may have the, this, that, my, her,
his, etc. in front of it, or a number.
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/all_1
Does ...
0
votes
0answers
71 views
Fractions and Hyphens \ how to understand?
One page tells : Fractions are written out in words. They are hyphenated only when they come right in front of a noun, called a “direct” adjective.
Another page tells : Do Not Use Hyphens with Numbers ...
0
votes
1answer
62 views
Spell out numbers or use numerals when in a list?
So we often get the general advice that we should spell out small numbers and use numerals for large numbers. However, what if you are referring to a list of a few numbers, some large and some small. ...
0
votes
1answer
104 views
Does the currency sign (¤) go before, or after the amount?
Should the currency sign (¤) come before, or after the amount of money?
Should it be "¤ 1.00", or "1.00 ¤"?
Should there be a space between ¤ and the amount?
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Omitting the “hundred” from the name of numbers
I’m not a native, so I’ve always spoken numbers in English as our textbooks tell us to do: 452 would be “four hundred (and) fifty-two.”
But I’ve recently heard natives say something like “four fifty-...
2
votes
0answers
20 views
How do I write a number range that includes all decimals of the last number? [closed]
I am trying to write out a number range that would include all decimals within the last integer listed. The number range will be used as a label on a web form, so it should be as concise as possible.
...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Should I use a suspended hyphen here? “A group of five-to-nine-year-olds did it,” or a “A group of five- to nine-year-olds did it”?
The title pretty much sums it up. Which of the following sentences is correct?
"A group of five-to-nine-year-olds did it."
"A group of five- to nine-year-olds did it."
Moreover, ...
-1
votes
1answer
84 views
“2 other” vs. “other 2”
Which one sounds more natural for English speakers?
"And 2 other places"; or
"And other 2 places".
(not just "2", but also 3, 4, any positive integer)
0
votes
0answers
30 views
Does “number noun” phrase require hyphenation?
Here is my sentence:
I have written a five page article.
Is the above sentence correct? Or does it need to be hyphenated like this?
I have written a five-page article.
Is there a name for the ...
0
votes
1answer
252 views
Does “8am” mean 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 08:00:00.000 in the morning, or does it just mean any time closer to that hour than to either 7:00 or to 9:00? [closed]
Suppose I wanted to indicate the range of time from exactly 8:00am to exactly 8:30am. Should I write “8:00am” for explicitness, or is exactly 8:00am implied by “8am”?
Also, is “2:15pm–2:45pm”, for ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Ordinal numbers and commas [duplicate]
When writing large ordinal numbers, does one use commas? Is it 1,234th or 1234th?
0
votes
3answers
433 views
A number is divided evenly by its factors; what to call this number?
A number is divided evenly by its factors, then what to call this number with?
For example:
10 is divided evenly by 1, 2 and 5.
1, 2, 5 are the factors
Then, how can I denote "10" with a ...
0
votes
2answers
67 views
Number vs. no. vs. # in scientific papers?
This is kinda an extension to: this question.
I am writing a scientific paper and have a numbered list. Now, when I want to refer to that list I want to say something like: "This issue is closely ...
2
votes
3answers
156 views
They won hundreds of dollars; five hundreds to be precise!
‘They won hundreds of dollars; five hundreds to be precise!’
"The Name of the Number", by Michael A. B. Deakin , page 48.
In mathematics we talk about the place of the units, of the tens, ...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
The choice between singular and plural in sentences such as “They have different book(s)/age(s)…”
I am confused about the use of number(s) in some sentences. I have come up with several types and made some sentences:
In the sentence above, should I use “the use of number” or “the use of numbers”?
...
0
votes
1answer
3k views
Why don't we say “a thousand of people” but “thousands of people” and “a thousand people”? [closed]
I notice that the phrases "a thousand people" and "thousands of people" are both correct, but I've never heard "a thousand of people".
First of all, is it correct to say &...
0
votes
1answer
432 views
Is there a symbol for “multiple”?
Not sure if I should be on another site, possibly Math, but is there a generic symbol specifically for "multiple"
For example, I'm trying to breakdown solutions based on number of cases
0 ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Total number of paints or number of each paint
If I say
We have a total of 10 paints in the following categories "
10 Matt and egg shell paints
Does that list make sense or does it read as if I have 10 Matt paints and 10 egg shell paints ...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Is 12.5 percent wrong way of expression?
From IELTS mock exam. I am not aware of any reason why 12.5 percent is marked wrong. Would someone pelease enlighten me?
Edit: One of the comments said that percent should not be spelled out. I ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Why is 1 term wrong [closed]
A module takes __ and the work is very intensive...
The correct answer is "a term" or "one term", I wrote "1 term" and is marked wrong, even though not long after this question "2 modules" is one of ...
1
vote
0answers
150 views
“X dollars' worth of Y” construction with “USD”
My question is similar to "Dollars' worth" vs. "dollars worth" for numerals but for numerals that are followed by a currency abbreviation.
When it's spelled out, it's clear ...
0
votes
0answers
40 views
Usage of “hundred” colloquially in numbers
I want to know when it is valid to say 2 digit + "hundred".
Suppose we have the number 3,500, then some people might say:
-> thirty-five hundred
So for a 4 digit number which ...
0
votes
2answers
447 views
Three is/are enough?
Should I use a singular or plural verb?
I got another dog because apparently three IS not enough.
Or
I got another dog because apparently three ARE not enough.
0
votes
1answer
690 views
Convention of writing percentage range
I am writing to inquire the convention of writing the following percentage range in academic writing:
We reduce the extra cost from 99.9% to 12%--24% (depending on different configuration schemes).
...
0
votes
1answer
214 views
Comma or space in long numbers and the UK Standard Rule [duplicate]
Is there a strict rule in the UK on how to write long figures? If so, which one is it?
For example, if I need to write long numbers and follow the UK standard, which figure is correct?
10 000 ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
By-product and Nth-product
By-products is a secondary product derived from a production process of primary product.
Is there anything like tri-product, four, five .. Nth?
Thank you.
2
votes
1answer
125 views
Are there any national spelling styles of English that use decimal commas?
It's a very simple question, and I think the answer's "no, except for countries that do, and even then it's frowned upon", but I can't find any sources. When I google this question, I get articles ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Can we describe the number of something as： XX(noun) is more than xx (number)?
In general, when we need to describe the number of something, we can say: over 100 people live here/ the number of people live here is over 100.
If my expressions are: people live here are over 100 / ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
Counting numbers
I’ve been noticing more questions on math.SE recently that want to “count the number” of something, e.g. count the number of arrangements of a certain type. My initial reaction to ...
