Glossary
Out loud (adv) = Spoken audibly; aloud. Often used as 'LOL' - 'laugh out loud'.
In bulk (adv) = In a large quantity
Out loud (adv) = Spoken audibly; aloud. Often used as 'LOL' - 'laugh out loud'.
In bulk (adv) = In a large quantity
The rules
Especially for students on our intensive business courses in the UK and on Skype, speaking about big numbers is important in presentations, and also when discussing buying and selling goods in bulk.
However, if we are unsure of the specific number we use the plural in English, for example - 'there were thousands of people at the football match yesterday'.
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For example:
222 is 'two hundred and twenty two'
The same is true for when we need to say a single digit number (one, two, three etc) NOT preceded by a 'ty' number
For example:
306 is 'three hundred and six'
The same is also true for the number 10
For example:
510 is 'five hundred and ten'
So, 21,890,407 is 'twenty one million, eight hundred and ninety thousand, four hundred and seven'
and 4,000,010 is 'four million and ten'
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So 2,109 is 'two thousand, one hundred and nine' NOT 'two thousand and one hundred and nine'
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American and British English now use the same system. Previously in British English we used the traditional form: One billion = 1,000,000 million. One trillion = 1,000,000,000,000 million.
- 'Hundred', 'thousand', 'million' and 'trillion' stay singular after specific numbers
However, if we are unsure of the specific number we use the plural in English, for example - 'there were thousands of people at the football match yesterday'.
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- Using the word 'and' for numbers over 100
For example:
222 is 'two hundred and twenty two'
The same is true for when we need to say a single digit number (one, two, three etc) NOT preceded by a 'ty' number
For example:
306 is 'three hundred and six'
The same is also true for the number 10
For example:
510 is 'five hundred and ten'
So, 21,890,407 is 'twenty one million, eight hundred and ninety thousand, four hundred and seven'
and 4,000,010 is 'four million and ten'
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- In big numbers, a comma replaces the need for the word 'and'
So 2,109 is 'two thousand, one hundred and nine' NOT 'two thousand and one hundred and nine'
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- One billion = 1,000 million. One trillion = 1,000,000 million
American and British English now use the same system. Previously in British English we used the traditional form: One billion = 1,000,000 million. One trillion = 1,000,000,000,000 million.
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