Talk:Spelling of ordinal numbers

From Rosetta Code

In zero based numbering systems, 0 is the first number, 1 is the second and so on. In my opinion, this task should reflect that issue rather than trying to make ordinal numbers be cardinal numbers. --Rdm (talk) 08:49, 7 September 2017 (UTC)

I used the definition or ordinal numbers found elsewhere   (as used here for counting words in a sentence);   I hadn't even thought of equating ordinal numbers to be cardinal numbers   (I don't even think they are equivalent).   In particular, the definitions that are used here for this Rosetta Code task are human-centric, not computer-centric   (such as counting doors, for instance, in another Rosetta Code task).   This problem/riddle/puzzle/task is an old one, and people start counting the first word in that long sentence as, well, the first word.   People use unity based numbering system for counting.   To do otherwise would re-define the original sentence as used in the premise sentence.   This problem has been "solved" before computers were used for such things, and the use of computers shouldn't change the construction of that (never-ending) sentence.   -- Gerard Schildberger (talk) 09:38, 7 September 2017 (UTC)
"People use unity based numbering system for counting" does not mean that people (often other people) do not use zero based numbering systems for counting.
That said, if you are using a unity based numbering system for counting, zero is indicated by the absence of a count. --Rdm (talk) 10:35, 7 September 2017 (UTC)
I removed the use of zero as one of the numbers (to be spelled as an ordinal number), and mention of zero in the task's preamble.   -- Gerard Schildberger (talk) 10:44, 7 September 2017 (UTC)

Short scale

The short scale numbering system (or as the task calls it, "the American version") has been used in the UK since 1974, and the Oxford English Dictionary notes that "milliard" is "a term now largely superseded by billion" in UK English.

I suggest that rather than saying "Furthermore, the American version of numbers will be used here (as opposed to the British). 2,000,000,000 is two billion, not two milliard." it would be better to say "Furthermore, the short scale numbering system (i.e. 2,000,000,000 is two billion) will be used here", with a link to the relevant Wikipedia page wp:Long and short scales. --GordonCharlton (talk) 08:35, 16 June 2021 (UTC)

As this has provoked no discussion, I have made the change.

--GordonCharlton (talk) 20:15, 12 September 2023 (UTC)