Hello,
I heard a native American read 0.18% (actually it was an interest rate) “zero point eighteen percent”. I know it should be “zero point one eight percent” or “eighteen hundredth percent”. “zero point eighteen” might be not a standard way to say, however, do natives say that way? The website below says so, but I’m not sure.
Thank you in advance,
sweetpumpkin
Interesting question. I think ‘zero point eighteen percent’ is colloquial and perfectly acceptable since it’s also easy to understand.
Sure, it’s fine.
If I were to say “zero point eighteen percent” I would be sure to clearly enunciate the word point to avoid confusion with 18% by the listener.
I personally would say “zero point one eight percent”, but then I say the book title as “Fahrenheit four five one”.
I learned in school (math class not English) that you NEVER EVER EVER say “point eighteen”. I had multiple math teachers say this. We would have been immediately corrected if we said “point eighteen”.
When stated as a fraction, then it is “eighteen hundredths”. As a decimal you would say “point one eight”.
There has been a growing tendency to use it as a number since, at least, 1998. Their contention is that when you say ‘point’ the idea becomes clear whether or not you mention it digit-wise or as a whole number. That’s logical!
Nowadays, people live faster than ever before! - as if they have to do more than what they can think of. And, the concept of saving TIME, SPACE and ENERGY is another aspect responsible for this change.
We may move with the change if it is not harmful.