O.5 0.0023g

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.
Is the correct pronunciation of "0.5g of salt" and "0.0023g of salt" "zero" or "oh" point five grams" and "zero" or "oh" point double oh/zero two three"?

 

[emsr2d2]

Come on, Rachel! Look again at your word order for a question. You know better than this!

 

[Tarheel]

I would say:

zero point five grams of salt

I can't say if that's "correct", or not.

(The other one is such a small amount I would have no need to know how to pronounce it.)

 

[Rachel Adams]

Come on, Rachel! Look again at your word order for a question. You know better than this!

I edited it. Thanks. I didn't see the second "is".

 

[Rachel Adams]

I would say:

zero point five grams of salt

I can't say if that's "correct, or not.

(The other one is such a small amount I would have no need to know how to pronounce it.)

Thank you, Tarheel. I was wondering if two 00s are pronounced as "double zero" or "double oh" or maybe "double noughts".

 

[Yankee]

I would say:

zero point five grams of salt

I can't say if that's "correct, or not.

(The other one is such a small amount I would have no need to know how to pronounce it.)

But for the second, and if I were reading it aloud, I would say "zero point zero zero two three grams".

 

[GoesStation]

I was wondering if two 00s are pronounced as "double zero" or "double oh" or maybe "double noughts".

Not in American English. Read it as zero point zero zero two three grams.

 

[SoothingDave]

The leading zero should absolutely be written, but I wouldn't normally pronounce it. "Point zero zero two three"

 

[Rachel Adams]

Not in American English. Read it as zero point zero zero two three grams.

When there are similar numbers in a bank account or phone number, for example 56788 should I pronounce them as ''double eight''?

 

[emsr2d2]

Some people use "double + number", some don't. The landline number for our house when I was growing up was "603228". When my mum answered the phone, she said "six oh three double two eight". My dad said "six oh three two two eight". I never answered the phone! I use "double + number" when giving out my mobile number.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Some people use "double + number", some don't. The landline number for our house when I was growing up was "603228". When my mum answered the phone, she said "six oh three double two eight". My dad said "six oh three two two eight". I never answered the phone! I use "double + number" when giving out my mobile number.

And are there strict rules one should follow when they choose to use either ''zero'' ''nought'' or ''oh''? Or are they all interchangeable most of the time in different contexts?

 

[emsr2d2]

They're interchangeable in BrE. I imagine that in important scientific numbers, it's probably better to use "zero". In standard, everyday language, use either one.

 

[GoesStation]

When there are similar numbers in a bank account or phone number, for example 56788 should I pronounce them as ''double eight''?

I don't think Americans do this very often if ever.

 

[SoothingDave]

Some people use "double + number", some don't. The landline number for our house when I was growing up was "603228". When my mum answered the phone, she said "six oh three double two eight". My dad said "six oh three two two eight". I never answered the phone! I use "double + number" when giving out my mobile number.

Was it customary to answer the phone that way?

 

[Rachel Adams]

Some people use "double + number", some don't. The landline number for our house when I was growing up was "603228". When my mum answered the phone, she said "six oh three double two eight". My dad said "six oh three two two eight". I never answered the phone! I use "double + number" when giving out my mobile number.

And regarding 0.5g and 0.0023g could you please write common BrE pronunciation?

 

[GoesStation]

Was it customary to answer the phone that way?

Some Brits have (or had, it's probably dying out) the disconcerting habit of answering the phone by reciting their number. I once hung up on an expensive transatlantic call because I didn't understand that.

 

[emsr2d2]

Was it customary to answer the phone that way?

Yes. When I was a kid, most people said their number when they answered. I can't remember when it changed to "Hello"!

 

[Yankee]

When there are similar numbers in a bank account or phone number, for example 56788 should I pronounce them as ''double eight''?

I would prefer to use/hear: "five, six, seven, eight, eight" and even perhaps have the person I'm speaking with to repeat the complete number..