The Correct Way to Say a Number
I remember my teacher (I think it was in first grade) saying that when you say a number, “and” means you have a decimal point, so if the number doesn’t have a decimal, don’t use “and.” This guy gets it right:
See? He didn’t day “four hundred and sixty dollars.”
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I’m Told that the First Part Applies to Me
—But the second part definitely doesn’t! I think I’ve mentioned profanity twice in this blog over the years, (do a search for “profane,” minced oath, or “curse” in the upper right corner if you’re curious) but I’ve never once in my life either written or spoken any actual profane language. Plain language is better.
What Else Might this Mean?
She lists four meanings. I can think of two more (see below). What else is this used for? The medical profession used it to stand for a fracture. And of course, we all use it for tic tac toe! What else might it mean?
Do People Count or Measure Time?
Would you say “fewer than six months” or would you say “less than six months”? With time and distance measurements, you can go either way, depending on what you mean. Are you measuring time or counting units of time? This guy gets it wrong: He’s counting whole months, so he should say “fewer,” right? What […]
Another Indirect Passive
—A continuation of the story arc from the last post: That’s the end of the arc, so only these two posts on the subject.
