One point. Two points. A half point. 0.5 points. hey, wait, "0.5 points"!?
Isn't that a bit odd? On one side, you can use it as a plural because you're counting in tenth points, but on the other, it doesn't make sense to use something that is less than one [insert thing you're counting] as a plural.
Sometimes, language can be very unlogic... Any thoughts on this?
ID:19738
![]() Sep 25 2006, 6:32 am (Edited on Sep 25 2006, 10:11 am)
|
|
![]() Sep 25 2006, 6:35 am
|
|
Meh...
|
I've always explained this like so:
0.5 is more than one tenth of a point, so it is a plural. |
Well, I've never said anything like 0.5 point, though it seems like it would be correct. I'll usually say something like a 5th of a point, or .5 points.
BTW, I always says anything less than -1 as plural, so not only numbers above one but below -1. |