I am not a teacher.
"Billion" in the US unequivocally means 1,000,000,000. In an international setting, though, "billion" is ambiguous. In British English, it can mean 1,000,000,000,000. If you say "thousand million" or "million million", you will be understood by everybody.
How does it read than "4 billion" or "4 million million"? I didn't even hear "milliard" from the British.
"Milliard" used to be used for one thousand million in BrE. It is 18th century French in origin. In modern French it means "million".Ofcourse you mean "4 tausand million". "Milliarde" is German. They might say "milliarde" or "milliard" in other languages as well. In Iran we say "milliard". "Milliard" is not English as you know.
"The government spends some $ 4000 million a year.........."
Why not to say $ 4 billion?
:up: Good point.I think it could simply be that it sounds bigger in some way- it's a longer number to say and could carry more intonation if spoken or take up more reading time, so it could simply be used for effect.
:up: Me too. I think some people use it as a badge: 'None of this American nonsense for me. I'm British and proud of it.' [Yawn ;-)]PS I think that the British billion has pretty much disappeared- whenever I see the number I think of 1,000 million. In fact, the only times I ever see it mentioned are on discussions about it- I never see it used, though there may still be somee specialised areas that use it.