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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Acre or acres (decimal form)

In referring to the size of a land parcel, 1 acre, 2 acres and 2.5 acres are all correct. However, if the site is something less than an acre, say 0.5, is it correct to say 0.5 acre or 0.5 acres? In other words, is the singular form "acre" only applicable when the size is exactly 1.0 acre? Thanks in advance for any assistance.
  

Top answer

5 acres are all correct. 5 acres? 0 acre?

— AlpheccaStars

  • 5 acres are all correct.
  • 5 acres?
  • 0 acre?
  • Thanks in advance for any assistance.
  • You can use either singular or plural.
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9 Answers
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AnonymousIn referring to the size of a land parcel, 1 acre, 2 acres and 2.5 acres are all correct. However, if the site is something less than an acre, say 0.5, is it correct to say 0.5 acre or 0.5 acres? In other words, is the singular form "acre" only applicable when the size is exactly 1.0 acre? Thanks in advance for any assistance.
You can use either si
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Anonymousis the singular form "acre" only applicable when the size is exactly 1.0 acre?
In my opinion, yes. The opinions given by the authorities who write style manuals vary, and they also change from time to time, but the only thing that "sounds right" to me is that 1 is singular, and everything else is not 1, therefore not singular, and therefore plural.
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CalifJim1 is singular, and everything else is not 1, therefore not singular, and therefore plural.
I agree, and indicated a preference for plural in the other thread. But there is an exception if the phrase is used as an adjective. e.g.

We bought a 0.5 acre tract of land.
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AlpheccaStarsBut there is an exception if the phrase is used as an adjective.
Yes, yes, yes. Of course. I was not taking that into consideration in my reply.

CJ
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Thanks everyone for your response. I very much appreciate the help!
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Let's not forget that English provides words instead of numerals in many common cases, e.g. "half-acre" and "quarter-acre." Spelled-out numbers create impact in many cases where numerals would be glossed over.
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My property is 2.856, how much more to 3 acres ?

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Without any authority other than the gift of misused grammar boxed ears, I believe that the word acre is used for 1, any fractional amount less than one, and when used as an adjective. Acres is used in any decimal form or when the number is greater than one and not used as an adjective.

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is it 0.66 acre or 0.66 acres

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