161.5 metres high

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

Is one hundred and sixty-one and a half the correct pronunciation of 161.5 metres high in this sentence?

The tallest part of the church is the steeple, which is 161.5 metres high.

From English File.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I might say:

- being precise: a hundred sixty-one point five meters
- simplifying: over a hundred and sixty meters
- simplifying more: over a hundred sixty meters
- being expansive: almost a hundred and sixty-two meters

Now let's see what others say.

 

[Rachel Adams]

I might say:

- being precise: a hundred sixty-one point five meters
- simplifying: over a hundred and sixty meters
- simplifying more: over a hundred sixty meters
- being expansive: almost a hundred and sixty-two meters

Now let's see what others say.

So point is pronounced here. When pronouncing currency it is not but when saying kilograms, etc it is. Must copy this is to my notes.

 

[GoesStation]

So point is pronounced here. When pronouncing currency it is not but when saying kilograms, etc it is.

Yes. You should generally read decimals as they're written except for currency. One sixty-one and a half isn't wrong, but most native speakers wouldn't read it that way in that context.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Yes. You should generally read decimals as they're written except for currency. One sixty-one and a half isn't wrong, but most native speakers wouldn't read it that way in that context.

In 23. 45 kg the second digit is pronounced separately. 'Twenty-three point four five' but if they had 161.45 instead of 161.5 what would be the correct pronunciation 'four' 'five' not 'forty-five?'

 

[GoesStation]

In 23.45 kg the second digit is pronounced separately. 'Twenty-three point four five' but if they had 161.45 instead of 161.5 what would be the correct pronunciation 'four' 'five' not 'forty-five?'

"Point forty-five" isn't exactly wrong, but native speakers don't normally pronounce decimals that way.

 

[Rachel Adams]

"Point forty-five" isn't exactly wrong, but native speakers don't normally pronounce decimals that way.

In both cases? When saying kilograms and meters?

 

[emsr2d2]

In both cases? When saying kilograms and meters?

Yes, after saying "point", we just say the individual numbers.

 

[GoesStation]

Yes, after saying "point", we just say the individual numbers.

I think that's the key. "Point" is used with currencies in financial contexts like currency exchange. In such cases, the digits following the decimal point are pronounced individually. For example, In New York, simoleons were trading at thirty-seven point six four one to the dollar.

 

[Rachel Adams]

I think that's the key. "Point" is used with currencies in financial contexts like currency exchange. In such cases, the digits following the decimal point are pronounced individually. For example, In New York, simoleons were trading at thirty-seven point six four one to the dollar.

But I leant that when saying currency point is not used. :shock:
£25.60 twenty-five pounds sixty pence.

 

[emsr2d2]

If you're actually saying a price, such as £25.60, you're right. GoesStation's example was more like jargon used in professional financial circles.

Six cans of Coke cost £1.35 > Six cans of Coke cost one pound thirty-five.
There are 1.35 pounds to the Euro > There are one point three five pounds to the Euro.

 

[GoesStation]

But I leant that when saying currency point is not used. :shock:
£25.60 twenty-five pounds sixty pence.

Yes. There's an exception, though. In technical finance contexts, prices may be quoted with more than two decimals of precision. In such cases (and others where the everyday "twenty-five pounds sixty" convention would risk a misunderstanding), currency values are read like other numbers.

 

[Rachel Adams]

If you're actually saying a price, such as £25.60, you're right. GoesStation's example was more like jargon used in professional financial circles.

Six cans of Coke cost £1.35 > Six cans of Coke cost one pound thirty-five.
There are 1.35 pounds to the Euro > There are one point three five pounds to the Euro.

And in British English what is the standard pronunciation of '161. 5 meters'?

 

[Rachel Adams]

one hundred and sixty-one point five metres

You don't use 'a' before 'hundred' in BrE?

 

[Rachel Adams]

Yes, we do. I just happened to use 'one' on this occasion.

I must have confused it with another use. Before 'pound', if I remember correctly, BrE use 'one' not 'a'. Right? 'One pound twenty-five pence.'

 

[emsr2d2]

I must have confused it with another use. Before 'pound', if I remember correctly, BrE uses 'one' not 'a'. Right? 'One pound twenty-five pence.'

That's right, unless the cost is exactly £1. Then we say either "one pound" or "a pound".

 

[emsr2d2]

And in British English, what is the standard pronunciation of '161.5 metres'?

If you're going to talk about BrE, you might as well spell "metres" the BrE way too. If I were in a particularly formal setting, I would say "one/a hundred and sixty-one point five metres", but if simply reading to myself or reading aloud in a more informal setting, I'd say "a hundred and sixty-five and a half metres".

 

[Rachel Adams]

If you're going to talk about BrE, you might as well spell "metres" the BrE way too. If I were in a particularly formal setting, I would say "one/a hundred and sixty-one point five metres", but if simply reading to myself or reading aloud in a more informal setting, I'd say "a hundred and sixty-five and a half metres".

In case I had '161.20 metres.' Would it be 'one/a hundred and sixty-one point two oh meters.' Or if I had 10 would it be 'oh one'?