I want to know why the method used for saying dates has changed since 2000. Before 2000, it was in the form
1998 (nineteen-ninety-eight) with the first two digits said as a number and the last two digits as a number. 2000 was “two thousand” and now 2002 is “two thousand and two”. Why not “twenty-zero-two”. People call 2012 “two thousand and twelve” instead of “twenty-twelve” whoch they would have before the millennium. Why did one year chnage they way dates are said? What way do you think years should be said?
One trend I’ve noticed, but it’s far from universal, is sounding out the abreviation 2k. 2002 is two-kay-two, 2012 would be two-kay-twelve.
3 outa 40 is my favorite:D
I’ve heard 2010 said “twenty-ten” and “two-tousand-and-ten”. I think it’s down to personal preferance. “two-thousand-and-one” is easier to say than “twenty-zero-one”.
I imagine it’ll be said “two-thousand-and-something” until we get past 2010(or maybe even 2019). In which case it would be easier to say “twenty-something”
“two-thousand-and-twelve” sounds ok. “twenty-twenty-four” sounds good too. 'Sup to you.
Well, that’s one take on the whole 2000 question. Confused ya yet?
Perhaps it is more rhythmically pleasing to say, with more syllables.
Nine-teen-Nine-ty-two (Five syllables)
Two-thou-sand and two. (five syllables)
Although here in NZ I usually hear it called: “Two thousand two”
Twenty-Three (3 syllables, and confusing. 20-03 or 23?)
Twenty-Oh-Three doesn’t sound much better.
“And” is like “Oh”, but “Twenty-and-three” was probably too archaic. (yet I kinda like it!)
Alternately:
My prediction is that after 2012 (two thousand twelve), it will become 2013 (twenty thirteen)
(a throwback to the imperial system of numbering?)
I think we’ll keep struggling along with “two-thousand-<number>” until we reach 2010, when we’ll start saying “twenty-oh-<number>”.
As for the 200x years I’ve noticed that just saying the last two numbers has become increasingly common, as in “No payments 'till January '03!”.
I am sure the trend will be enitrely locked down by 2020.
Tris
I think it’s 2100 when it will be lost for 900 years. The difference between “two thousand eighty-seven” and “twenty eighty-seven” is slight, but the difference between “two thousand, one hunderd six” and “twenty-one oh six” is significant.
How common was “aught” used back at the last turn of the century? Some pundits kept speculating it’d see a resurgance, so that this’d be twenty-aught-two.