English Language Learners Stack Exchange
English Language Learners Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [numbers]

Cardinal and ordinal numbers and numerals: zero, one, forty-two, 3.14, etc. Use this tag for questions related to numbers in the mathematical sense and expressions involving numbers. For questions about singular/plural, use [grammatical-number].

A cardinal number (or counting number) expresses a quantity: zero, one, two, three, etc. An ordinal number expresses the rank in a sequence: first, second, third, etc. A numeral is a way to write or express a number, either using words or using digits.

Use this tag for questions on forming numerals and how to use them. For questions about the grammatical notion of number (singular or plural), use the tag .

285 questions
14
votes
6 answers

128-bit vs 128 bits

In cryptography, we often write as "AES has 128-bit key" and "AES provides 128 bits of security" Is there any difference between writing 128-bit and 128 bits? What is the correct choice? Example; From Lindell & Katz's book; AES supports 128-,…
kelalaka
  • 251
  • 2
  • 9
11
votes
7 answers

"$x USD" vs. "x USD": does the $ serve any purpose?

Sometimes I read $x USD. E.g.: $900 USD purchase price Why not simply write 900 USD, without the $ symbol? In other words, when writing $x USD, does the $ serve any purpose?
Franck Dernoncourt
  • 5,869
  • 18
  • 73
  • 128
10
votes
1 answer

Which number is "four and forty thousand"?

Reading The Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapkowski and at one point he describes the number of troops in the army as "four and forty thousand". Which number would that be? 44,000? 440,000? 40,004?
Michael Munta
  • 246
  • 2
  • 10
8
votes
2 answers

Why are Years Cardinal?

It is the year twenty-twenty, and the world has changed. This is a phrase that is odd in a way that I didn't realise until recently. Normally, calendar units are meant to be ordinal. 'The twenty-fifth of December', 'the twenty-fifth of the…
vicky_molokh
  • 199
  • 5
5
votes
1 answer

Is the usage of 'x times' correct, if you want x pieces of something?

In German you can say something like 'I want this 2 times', meaning that you want 2 pieces of something. Is this correct in English to say, or is the equivalent rather 'I want 2 of these'?
Kai Hartmann
  • 379
  • 1
  • 4
  • 14
5
votes
4 answers

Is 10/9 ever used to mean "9 out of 10"?

"9 out of 10" is mainly shortened as 9/10 in English as far as I know. In my native language (Hungarian) 10/9 is also used, although it is not as common nowadays as 9/10. Probably because the translation of "9 out of 10" in Hungarian is "10-ből 9",…
Mathiassa
  • 77
  • 1
  • 4
4
votes
3 answers

First, Second, Third, Fourth or 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th? One, Two, Three or 1, 2, 3?

When we use words like first, second, third, fourth or 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, in sentences, what will be the best way to write these? Also, what about numbers? Do we put them as numbers or numerals? Here are some sample sentences, He got first/1st…
Masroor
  • 837
  • 4
  • 9
  • 16
4
votes
1 answer

two thousands five hundreds dollars vs two thousand five hundred dollars

Among 'two thousands five hundreds dollars' and 'two thousand five hundred dollars.', which is the right one? should I put 's' at the end of thousand and hundred?
Kwon Sun Mok
  • 393
  • 4
  • 9
  • 13
4
votes
1 answer

Two digit written numbers: hyphen or space?

As a curious learner, today I asked myself about the spelling of one number, because this, in particular, confuses me a lot. I typed twenty two in Google, and I observed that form but twenty-two was there as well. Why does it happen? Moreover,…
Valeria Kafka
  • 325
  • 1
  • 2
  • 9
4
votes
2 answers

Is it correct to say "by your thirty years old" instead of "by thirty"?

Imagine you asked someone about their plans and wishes for the future. Would it be correct to say: What do you hope you'll have achieved by your thirty years old? rather than: What do you hope you'll have achieved by thirty?
user46678
3
votes
1 answer

How should I present my telephone number?

How should I write my mobile telephone number in an email? I want to send something like Hi, Following is my mobile number 0000 000 000 Thanks or Hi, My mobile number is 000 000 0000 Please feel free to call me whenever needed. Thanks Should I…
user2481
  • 41
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
3
votes
2 answers

"Number two" or "Number 2" in this context?

In the context of defecating, is it "Number two", or "Number 2"? I assume "No. 2" would be too technical-looking for this context. Urban Dictionary has entries for both "Number two" and "Number 2".
Golden Cuy
  • 5,917
  • 14
  • 59
  • 85
3
votes
1 answer

"Some 40" vs "40 some" vs "40 odd"?

Are they all the same ? "Some 40" vs "40 some" vs "40 odd" Syrian planes and helicopters have dropped barrel bombs on Islamic State-held areas in the north-east, killing some 40 people, activists say.
Terry3497
  • 295
  • 4
  • 7
3
votes
3 answers

What is the difference between "the number of" and "the numbers of"?

I read an IELTS test, which has the sentence: Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. At first, I thought it mentions two objects (male and female), so we have to use "the numbers of" but after…
trungbk
  • 39
  • 2
3
votes
1 answer

How to understand "add the first number to itself"

If you multiply one number by another, you add the first number to itself as many times as is indicated by the second number. For example 2 multiplied by 3 is equal to 6. (Collins Dictionary) 2*3= First time (of adding): 2+2=4 Second time:…
ForOU
  • 1,673
  • 6
  • 17
1
2 3 4 5