Windows 3.1

Question

Hi,the topic is dot or point?Windows 3.1Firefox 2.0.0.9SoftwareDunno ver. 2.2.1bI heard that if there's only one dot, it's pronounced "point", otherwise it's "dot". So it should be "Windows 3 point one" but "Firefox 2 dot 0 dot 0 dot 9".Opinions? Thanks

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I'd probably say 'point' in both cases. It seems to be the standard term when one is talking about 'versions'.

Clive

Kooyeen · Answer

Thanks.
Thak makes sense... I think I was wrong, and what I read was this:

Use 'point' when you're talking about a decimal point in a number, eg version 2.0 or 16.9 percent (but not when the number is a sum of money, and if the position of the decimal point is obvious from the context, eg if your cup of coffee costs $3.49, you'll be asked for 'three forty-nine'). As with the money exception, it is also accepted usage to say just 'two oh' if the context makes it evident that what you mean is '2.0';

Use 'dot' when you're talking about a separator, whether between letters or numbers, eg a web address like zdnet.com is said 'zdnet dot com', and similarly a numeric IP address like 192.168.1.1 is said '192 dot 168 dot 1 dot 1'. This rule also explains why the name of an IEEE standard like 802.11 (WiFi) is spoken with a dot rather than a point

~(Link: http://blogs.zdnet.com/SAAS/?p=290)

Does that make sense for American English? Are there "dots" in IP addresses like 198.30.1.1?
Thanks

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Yeah, that sounds OK.

As regards IP addresses like 198.30.1.1, I never have occasion to say them aloud, so it's not an issue for me.

Clive

Kooyeen · Answer

Ah, ok, thanks.
I'll say "dot" until someone tells me "what did you just say instead of point?"

Windows 3.1

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions