Proper use of an and a

It could be either. It depends how you say "1800." If you say it "one thousand eight hundred," then it is "a one thousand eight hundred s.f. building." If you say it "eighteen hundred," then it is "an eighteen hundred s.f. building." In writing you would use the article that fits how you think most readers would pronounce "1800." If the audience is engineers, architects, and other technical

However, you would probably use "a" generally since "one thousand eight hundred" is the most correct way to say it.

Or you can simply force it. If you prefer to pronounce it "eighteen hundred" you'd use "an," and then the reader will know that you're pronouncing it that way. If you prefer to pronounced it "one thousand eight hundred" you'd used "a," and the reader will know that you're pronouncing it like that.

Do you say

I say "An 1,800 ...", i.e., "An eighteen hundred square foot building".

As noted above, not everyone will say it the same way.

CJ

CalifJimDo you say

I say "An 1,800 ...", i.e., "An eighteen hundred square foot building".

As noted above, not everyone will say it the same way.

CJ

Hi CJ

An eighteen-hundred-square-foot building

Are hyphens optional? I think in BrE, they are needed.

Thanks.

A one thousand, eight hundred, square foot building.

An eighteen-hundred-square-foot building

Are hyphens optional? I don't think so.

I think in BrE, they are needed.I believe they are required in American English as well. (Oops!

Thanks, CJ, for the confirmation.