# Delay in expected change from "Two Thousand and..." pronunciation: Why?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-in-expected-change-from-two-thousand-and-pronunciation-why/695715>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 16, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-in-expected-change-from-two-thousand-and-pronunciation-why/695715 "2014-08-16T22:15:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-in-expected-change-from-two-thousand-and-pronunciation-why/695715/61 "2014-08-25T19:56:58Z")

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> [@BigT](#):
>
> I really think it started as **a way to teach children that decimals and fractions are the same thing**. Because we do say, for example, 1 3/100 as “one and three hundredths.” But we sat “one point oh three” for 1.03.  
> …

Yes, yes! (and I’m ashamed not to have mentioned this myself). The ‘rule’ isn’t imposed arbitrarily; it does have a rationale behind it. But as you say, most people stop adhering to it or even using it at all.

As for hearing the “two thousand” construction–I don’t think I’ve gone a day since making this thread without hearing it said that way at least once (including on radio and television). But possibly that’s because I have one or the other on, several hours most days. :o

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