Is "eleven tenths of a mile" singular or plural?

[sitifan]

Decimal quantities are considered to be plural; quantities expressed as fractions are considered to be singular. So write “0.8 miles” but “eight tenths of a mile.” For decimal forms, only the number one is singular: 1 mile. Once you add a decimal, even if it’s a zero, it becomes plural: 1.0 miles.
https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Numbers/faq0058.html
Is the phrase "eleven tenths of a mile" singular or plural?

 

[emsr2d2]

Decimal quantities are considered to be plural; quantities expressed as fractions are considered to be singular. So write “0.8 miles” but “eight tenths of a mile.” For decimal forms, only the number one is singular: 1 mile. Once you add a decimal, even if it’s a zero, it becomes plural: 1.0 miles.
https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Numbers/faq0058.html
Is the phrase "eleven tenths of a mile" singular or plural?

We wouldn't say "eleven tenths" of anything! That's one and one tenth.

 

[sitifan]

We wouldn't say "eleven tenths" of anything! That's one and one tenth.

It's possible in math class, isn't it?

 

[emsr2d2]

It's possible in math class, isn't it?

I can't remember back that far!

 

[dunchee]

quantities expressed as fractions are considered to be singular

It's still fraction, and it's not "eleven tenths of miles".

 

[sitifan]

We wouldn't say "eleven tenths" of anything! That's one and one tenth.

We can say "one and a half hours". Can we say "one and one third miles"?

 

[5jj]

Yes.

 

[Tarheel]

Sure. However, more likely is:

One and a third miles.

 

[Tarheel]

One and a third miles.

I fixed it.

 

[probus]

I think "a mile and a third" would be a little more natural than "one and a third miles".

 

[emsr2d2]

I think "a mile and a third" would be a little more natural than "one and a third miles".

I'm more likely to use "one point three miles" (and yes, I know that's not exactly equal to "one and a third miles" but there are few contexts in which I'd need to be that precise!