Zompist Bboard Again

WeepingElf wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 5:25 am

Raphael wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 3:47 am When, if ever, would you capitalize numbers written out? Of course you'd use lowercase when writing something like "There were five chickens in the coop." But what about, for instance, "The number five has different symbolic connotations in a number of different cultures"?

I don't think I have ever seen a capitalized numeral in English, except, of course, as part of a proper name such as The Jackson Five. Keep in mind that, unlike German, common nouns are not capitalized in English.

This is correct -- the only times you would capitalize a number in English are as part of a proper name or when titlecase or at the start of a sentence.

Travis B. wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 8:47 am

WeepingElf wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 5:25 am

Raphael wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 3:47 am When, if ever, would you capitalize numbers written out? Of course you'd use lowercase when writing something like "There were five chickens in the coop." But what about, for instance, "The number five has different symbolic connotations in a number of different cultures"?

I don't think I have ever seen a capitalized numeral in English, except, of course, as part of a proper name such as The Jackson Five. Keep in mind that, unlike German, common nouns are not capitalized in English.

This is correct -- the only times you would capitalize a number in English are as part of a proper name

Well, that's what I was wondering about - does the word "five" ever count as "the proper name of the number 'five'" when you're talking about that number?

Raphael wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 9:23 am

Travis B. wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 8:47 am

WeepingElf wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 5:25 am

I don't think I have ever seen a capitalized numeral in English, except, of course, as part of a proper name such as The Jackson Five. Keep in mind that, unlike German, common nouns are not capitalized in English.

This is correct -- the only times you would capitalize a number in English are as part of a proper name

Well, that's what I was wondering about - does the word "five" ever count as "the proper name of the number 'five'" when you're talking about that number?

No.

bradrn wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 9:41 am

No.

Thank you!

I suppose there might be exceptions in certain legal contexts: "The conlang shall have 42 (FORTY-TWO) phonemes", and such like.

alice wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 2:08 pm I suppose there might be exceptions in certain legal contexts: "The conlang shall have 42 (FORTY-TWO) phonemes", and such like.

To me the main place I see such usages are with small numbers you'd normally write out, and then it goes like "one (1)".

Travis B. wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 2:29 pm

alice wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 2:08 pm I suppose there might be exceptions in certain legal contexts: "The conlang shall have 42 (FORTY-TWO) phonemes", and such like.

To me the main place I see such usages are with small numbers you'd normally write out, and then it goes like "one (1)".

There's also cheques, where you write the numbers like "$5,300.-- (five thousand three hundred dollars)", but you normally don't capitalize that.
@ Raphael: You would capitalize a number when it's useed as a name, e.g., in the case of the girl in "Stranger Things" who is called Eleven.

Do I get this right that these are called single-track roads in BE and one-lane roads in SAE? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-track_road

Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2026 9:47 am Do I get this right that these are called single-track roads in BE and one-lane roads in SAE? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-track_road

I'm familiar with "one-lane road" myself.

Travis B. wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2026 11:33 am

Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2026 9:47 am Do I get this right that these are called single-track roads in BE and one-lane roads in SAE? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-track_road

I'm familiar with "one-lane road" myself.

Thank you!

Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2026 11:38 am

Travis B. wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2026 11:33 am

Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2026 9:47 am Do I get this right that these are called single-track roads in BE and one-lane roads in SAE? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-track_road

I'm familiar with "one-lane road" myself.

Thank you!

I'd say "single track road" or "country lane" myself.

Lērisama wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2026 1:20 pm

Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2026 11:38 am

Travis B. wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2026 11:33 am
I'm familiar with "one-lane road" myself.

Thank you!

I'd say "single track road" or "country lane" myself.

Thank you, too!