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Four point zero

Why is it that so many people (even those who earn them) say their grade point average as "four point oh". While it can not be proved at this time that this phrasing is "uneducated" it is at the very least "technically incorrect".

Posted by Aaron R. Deutsch on December 20, 2003 08:23 PM

Comments

"... that it this phrasing is "uneducated"..."
Isn't it funny how typos can take all the validity out of your point?

Posted by: professorG at December 24, 2003 04:04 PM

Touche.

EDITORIAL NOTE: Those of you reading this comment thread will note that professorG's grammatical correction has been made to the original post.

Posted by: Aaron R. Deutsch at December 24, 2003 07:29 PM

Four point zero vs. Four point oh vs. Four decimal point zero.

Andrea had posed the question in "Evil Handlebars" about "Four decimal point zero" as being even more accurate yet.

I will point out that engineers and mathemeticians, when reading a number (with a decimal point) from a calculator will say "two-hundred and seventy three point two five" for 273.25, not "two-hundred and seventy three decimal place two five"

That aside, I say the longer and more involved it is the better.

"Four decimal point zero" it is. :-)

Posted by: Aaron R. Deutsch at December 24, 2003 07:33 PM

Wouldn't it be equally correct, and far more concise, to just say "Four"?

Posted by: Dart Football at December 28, 2003 08:37 PM

You could say "four."

But doesn't that sound more conceited than "four-point (oh/decimal point)-zero?" I think the tail end of it takes the edge off.

Posted by: Andrea at December 31, 2003 09:57 PM

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