Big Numbers- American and British English

A LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS

How to say hundreds, thousands, millions and billions in the US and UK

By: Alex Case
Level: Beginner
Theme: Numbers
Study Area: General
      Page: /

Lesson Plan Content:


Big numbers in British and American English

Match the written numbers to a) or b) in each exampl

An old British billion was one million millio

a) 1,000,000,000

b) 1,000,000,000,000

But nowadays the American billion has become standard. Nonetheless, in a British context you can make yourself totally clear by just saying a thousand million for the same amount

a) 1,000,000,000

b) 1,000,000,000,000

In British English, it is common the use the word ‘and’ in numbers such as one hundred and twenty three

a) 23

b) 123

Moving such numbers does not change how the ‘and’ is used, as in a hundred and twenty three thousand

a) 123,000

b) 1,023

There might even be two or more “and”s in the same number, for example in one hundred and three thousand and thirty three

a) 33,103

b) 103,033

 

What is the general rule for where the word “and” can be put in numbers?

Say all the numbers above without looking at the written descriptions.

Say the following numbers, practicing using the word “and” in the right place when it can be used (even if it is also correct without):

2007

1,302

123,456,789,012

1,200

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Answer key

An old British billion was one million million

1,000,000,000

1,000,000,000,000

But nowadays the American billion has become standard. Nonetheless, in a British context you can make yourself totally clear by just saying a thousand million for the same amount

1,000,000,000

1,000,000,000,000

In British English, it is common the use the word ‘and’ in numbers such as one hundred and twenty three

23

123

Moving such numbers does not change how the ‘and’ is used, as in a hundred and twenty three thousand

123,000

1,023

There might even be several “and”s in the same number, for example in one hundred and three thousand and thirty three

33,103

103,033

 

What is the general rule for where the word and can be put in numbers?

In a three or five digit number (or a three digit part of a larger number), the “and” comes between the hundreds and tens. This is true even when the hundreds and or tens are zero, e.g. in “one thousand and one” (1,001).

 

Say the following numbers, practicing using the word ‘and’ in the right place when it can be used:

2007 – two thousand and seven

1,302 – one thousand three hundred and two

123,456,789,012 one hundred and twenty three billion, four hundred and fifty six million, seven hundred and eight nine thousand and twelve

1,200 one thousand two hundred (not possible to put an “and” in it)

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