Numbers in English

Numbers in English – A Complete Guide for Advanced Learners

Numbers may seem simple – after all, they are just digits on a page, right? But in English, numbers have their own pronunciation rules, grammar patterns, spelling quirks, and even idiomatic expressions. Whether you are talking about history (“in 1066”), sports (“three-nil”), money (“ten quid”), or time (“quarter past five”), knowing how to use numbers in English naturally will make your speech and writing sound more fluent and precise.

Let’s take a closer look at numbers in English – from the basics to the finer details.

Types of numbers in English

Cardinal numbers

These are the numbers you use to count things: one, two, three, four, five…

Example: I bought three books yesterday.

Note: In British English, “and” is used after “hundred” in full numbers:

123 = one hundred and twenty-three.

Ordinal numbers

These show position or order: first, second, third, fourth…

Example: She came second in the race.

Used for dates in speech: the third of May.

Fractions

Used for parts of a whole: ½ = one-half, ¾ = three-quarters.

Example: Cut the cake into thirds.

Grammar tip: Singular for “one-half” but plural for “two-thirds”.

Decimals

We use the word point for the dot:

3.5 = three point five.

0.75 = nought point seven five (or “zero” in American English).

Percentages

We use the phrase per cent (two words in British English):

50% = fifty per cent.

Example: Profits rose by ten per cent last year.

Roman numerals

Used in names, centuries, events, and outlines:

I, II, III, IV, V…

Example: King Edward VIII, the XXI Olympic Games.

Spelling and hyphenation rules

Use hyphens in compound numbers from 21 to 99: twenty-one, thirty-five.

Do not add “s” to hundred, thousand, million when followed by another number:

Correct: three hundred and fifty.

Incorrect: three hundreds and fifty.

“And” is standard in British English between hundred and smaller numbers:

Four hundred and twelve.

Pronunciation tips

Thirteen vs Thirty

ThirTEEN – stress on the second syllable.

THIRty – stress on the first syllable.

Saying years

1984 = nineteen eighty-four.

2005 = two thousand and five (or twenty oh five in casual speech).

Phone numbers

Zero is often pronounced oh.

“Double” is common for repeated digits:

07758 662 449 = oh double seven five eight, double six two, four four nine.

Grammar with numbers

Singular vs plural: One is enough. Two are enough.

Articles: A hundred people came (not one hundred people came unless for emphasis).

Prepositions:

In 2025

At 3 o’clock

Prices by 10%

Idioms and expressions with numbers

Common mistakes to avoid

• Confusing fifteen with fifty (listen for stress).
• Forgetting the hyphen in numbers like twenty-four.
• Saying two hundreds instead of two hundred.
• Dropping “and” in British English numbers (one hundred and five).

Numbers are the backbone of communication – whether you are reading statistics, telling a story, or making small talk. Mastering their pronunciation, grammar, and idiomatic uses will give your English a natural flow. Next time you watch the news, follow a recipe, or read a sports score, pay attention to how numbers are said – and practise using them yourself.

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