You often read the number "0" as the letter "o" (pronounced "oh") in spoken English, particularly when it appears in a sequence of other numbers.
Common Scenarios:
-
Phone Numbers: This is the most common use. Instead of saying "zero," you'd say "oh." For example, 555-0123 would be spoken as "five five five, oh one two three."
-
Room Numbers: Similar to phone numbers, "0" is often pronounced as "oh." Room 101 would be "room one oh one."
-
Years: While less common than in phone numbers, sometimes years are read with "0" as "oh." For example, 1907 could be spoken as "nineteen oh seven." However, "two thousand and seven" is more likely.
-
Addresses: Similar to room numbers, house numbers containing a "0" often have it pronounced as "oh". For example, 120 Main Street would be "twelve oh Main Street."
-
Other Numerical Sequences: Any sequence of digits where pronouncing "zero" feels cumbersome.
Why use "oh" instead of "zero"?
- Clarity: The "oh" sound can be clearer and easier to distinguish from other numbers in a sequence, especially when speaking quickly.
- Convention: It's become a standard convention in these specific situations.
- Conciseness: "Oh" is simply shorter and faster to say than "zero".
When to use "zero":
- Mathematical Contexts: In equations or mathematical calculations, you should always say "zero."
- Measurements: When expressing temperature, weight, or other measurements.
- Quantities: When referring to an amount or quantity. For example, "There are zero apples."
In summary, while "zero" is the mathematically correct term, "oh" is often used colloquially in sequences of numbers such as phone numbers, room numbers, and sometimes addresses and years for the sake of clarity and ease of pronunciation.
