Why do we say 18th century?

[Thudlow_Boink]

@mhendo

I should note, by the way, that a certain percentage of my students never grasp the concept. Even after i explain how it works, i still have some students who think that the 18th century is the 1800s, and so on.

I totally grasp the concept, but I still have to mentally translate: mention the 18th century, and I’ll have to think “Oh that’s the… 19… no wait—the 1700’s. Why couldn’t they just say the 1700’s in the first place, instead of making me figure it out?”

So I appreciate this thread’s question.