4.8 thousand?

Question

Hi,I'm wondering if it's acceptable to use an expression like "4.8 thousand" in a speech and in writing instead of 4,800.Keith Little &gt; Web: www.thecorch.com"I'd like to start a religion. That's where the money is." - L. Ron Hubbard, Founder of Scientology

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I'm wondering if it's acceptable to use an expression like "4.8 thousand" in a speech and in writing instead of 4,800.[/nq]
This would be unidiomatic in ordinary English
speech (possibly not in jargons of engineers,
stockbrokers etc.) Writing 4.8 thousand is
permissible but unusual, i.e. best reserved for
a special occasion when it accomplishes what
no other string of words can do.

Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hi, I'm wondering if it's acceptable to use an expression like "4.8 thousand" in a speech and in writing instead of 4,800.[/nq]
Sure, at least in informal speech and writing. It strikes me as kinda clunky, but if that's how you want to do it, you go right ahead.
Just watch out for those billions, at least until the UK comes fully around.

Bob Lieblich
Libertarian

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Hi, I'm wondering if it's acceptable to use an expression like "4.8 thousand" in a speech and in writing instead of 4,800.[/nq]
[nq:1]Sure, at least in informal speech and writing. It strikes me as kinda clunky, but if that's how you want to do it, you go right ahead. Just watch out for those billions, at least until the UK comes fully around.[/nq]
And be careful about the milliards (and billiards as well, if you don't want to be snookered).

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Hi, I'm wondering if it's acceptable to use an expression like "4.8 thousand" in a speech and in writing instead of 4,800.[/nq]
[nq:1]Sure, at least in informal speech and writing. It strikes me as kinda clunky, but if that's how you want to do it, you go right ahead. Just watch out for those billions, at least until the UK comes fully around.[/nq]
The UK comes around roughly once a day (as, indeed, do most of its inhabitants).
Cheers - Ian

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I'm wondering if it's acceptable to use an expression like "4.8 thousand" in a speech and in writing instead of 4,800.[/nq]
[nq:1]Sure, at least in informal speech and writing. It strikes me as kinda clunky, but if that's how you want to do it, you go right ahead.[/nq]
I won't stand in your way, but I wonder why you'd want to. How often do you come across this usage, compared to how often you come across the usage of e.g. "four thousand eight hundred" in speech and "4,800" in writing?
"4.8 thousand" is longer to write. As for speaking, IMHO the very slight saving of breath of saying "four point eight thousand" rather than "four thousand eight hundred" isn't worth the mental jolt the listener would get upon hearing the unfamiliar form. (At least, it's unfamiliar IME.)
[nq:1]Just watch out for those billions, at least until the UK comes fully around.[/nq]
We have. At any rate, the UK media have, according to the style guides of The Times and The Guardian, what I read there and elsewhere, and what I hear on the TV and radio. It's been years since I came across "billion" being used to mean "million million" by anyone who, by not explaining it, showed he'd assumed that the listener would also understand that "billion" was used with that meaning.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Sure, at least in informal speech and writing. It strikes ... how you want to do it, you go right ahead.[/nq]
[nq:1]I won't stand in your way, but I wonder why you'd want to. How often do you come across this ... hundred" isn't worth the mental jolt the listener would get upon hearing the unfamiliar form. (At least, it's unfamiliar IME.)[/nq]
I'll second that.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I'm wondering if it's acceptable to use an expression like "4.8 thousand" in a speech and in writing instead of 4,800.[/nq]
[nq:1]This would be unidiomatic in ordinary English speech (possibly not in jargons of engineers, stockbrokers etc.) Writing 4.8 thousand is permissible but unusual, i.e. best reserved for a special occasion when it accomplishes what no other string of words can do.[/nq]
On the other hand, "4.8 million" seems fairly unexceptionable.

Rob Bannister

Usenet · Answer

I guess so, as long as the people you're talking to are likely to be educated enough to know you don't mean 4.8000.
[nq:1]"4.8 thousand" is longer to write. As for speaking, IMHO the very slight saving of breath of saying "four point ... hundred" isn't worth the mental jolt the listener would get upon hearing the unfamiliar form. (At least, it's unfamiliar IME.)[/nq]
I make "forty eight hundred" slightly quicker still. But I agree, "four thousand eight hundred" seems to be the more natural form.
[nq:1]It's been years since I came across "billion" being used to mean "million million" by anyone who, by not explaining it, showed he'd assumed that the listener would also understand that "billion" was used with that meaning.[/nq]
People are ambiguous enough with dates. Unless we're going to make numbers ambiguous too, I'd still be inclined to talk of "million million" or "thousand million" or maybe the equivalent scientific notation. At least if it isn't clear from the context.

Stewart.

My e-mail is valid but not my primary mailbox. Please keep replies on on the 'group where everyone may benefit.

4.8 thousand?

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