how to pronounce numbers

[grsbanks]

If in the former camp you have to stop and count the digits after the decimal point in order to work out the denominator of your "fraction" (in quotes because there is no fraction!) before finally speaking the value. Not good where speed is of the essence.

We just read it out as it is written and only mention fractions if fractions are there on the paper.

If I were to write down a number given to me as "one hundred twenty-six and five hundred forty-four thousandths", because of the potential ambiguity of the fraction part (is it \(\frac{500}{44000}\), is it \(\frac{540}{4000}\) or is it \(\frac{544}{1000}\)?), we tend to use "x over y" when y gets to 100 or above.

So, "126.544" would be "one hundred and twenty-six point five four four."

\(126\frac{544}{1000}\) would be "one hundred and twenty-six and five-hundred and forty-four over one thousand."