The correct way to verbally express telephone numbers?

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Geektastic

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#142915 28-Mar-2014 14:03

This is a general question/discussion about phone numbers and how to say them/write them.

Let us use the entirely random number 0212223333 as an example.

I would write that and speak that as 021 222 3333

It seems common here for people to write/say it as 0212 223 333 and as 021 2223 333 which both sounds and looks 'wrong' to me. As I understand it, the 021 part of that number is the code, so rendering it as 0212 would be incorrect.

Now I agree that the numbers are the same. However, when listening to someone over the phone (e.g. voicemail) who says it 'wrong' I find it takes some mental gymnastics and usually more than one listen of the message before I can write it down and sort out the order in my own mind so I can dial it!

Probably just my strange Aspergers brain but what do others think?

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#1014587 28-Mar-2014 14:14

And is it oh two one or zero two one :)

coffeebaron

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#1014605 28-Mar-2014 14:17

Yup, worst is 0274 123 456
Then there is 021 0123 4567

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Zippity

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#1014609 28-Mar-2014 14:25

Who says there is a correct way?

I would call it "oh two one, triple two, double three, double three"

Batwing

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#1014610 28-Mar-2014 14:26

I agree with OP. Around here generally people go with xxx-xxx-xxxx (removed derp), but given difficult reception I often read back as xxx-xxx-xx-xx.

The one exception is people saying or writing 0274, seriously why is the 4 considered part of the 027, where if the next digit is NOT a 4 then people split it up the same as every other number.

That said, pairings of 2 or 3 digits is okay regardless of the total length of the number - once you start running 4 or more together it gets hard to follow.

nigelj

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#1014611 28-Mar-2014 14:27

Geektastic: This is a general question/discussion about phone numbers and how to say them/write them.

Let us use the entirely random number 0212223333 as an example.

I would write that and speak that as 021 222 3333

It seems common here for people to write/say it as 0212 223 333 and as 021 2223 333 which both sounds and looks 'wrong' to me. As I understand it, the 021 part of that number is the code, so rendering it as 0212 would be incorrect.

Now I agree that the numbers are the same. However, when listening to someone over the phone (e.g. voicemail) who says it 'wrong' I find it takes some mental gymnastics and usually more than one listen of the message before I can write it down and sort out the order in my own mind so I can dial it!

Probably just my strange Aspergers brain but what do others think?

I normally agree, for instance 027 nnn nnnn is how I remember a couple of family member's phone numbers off my heart, mainly because there is a bit of rhythmic patterning in the last four digits, my phone number I remember and speak as 027 nnnn nnn (or nn nn nnnn) for the exact same reason and it really throws me off if I see it formatted as nnn nnnn.

I think one of the reasons that 0x(x) nnn nnnn feels right though is because home phone numbers since the 7-digitization of them, are 'xxx yyyy' (because xxx used to be the hint as to which exchange it was to be routed to).

Personally unless there is some numerical rhythm to a number in another format, it's best to go 02n pause nnn pause nnnn.

trig42

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#1014613 28-Mar-2014 14:28

The 0274 thing is a bit of a hangover from when Telecom changed from 025. All their original 027 numbers started with 027 4xx xxxx, so people (having been used to coming from a 6-digit cellphone number 025 xxx xxx or 021 xxx xxx) just changed the prefix to 0274 to get 0274 xxx xxx. A lot were even written like that on signs and stationary.

dimsim

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#1014615 28-Mar-2014 14:29

i think some of the confusion arose when TC changed from 025 to 027/0274 didnt it?

its always seemed easiest to me to just have 021/022/027.. then the number

numbers like 027 4444 888 instead of 0274 444 888

in the above examples id say oh two seven, double 4, double 4, triple 8 or oh two seven four, triple four, triple eight

although whenever i do actually say that i want to correct myself to say zero two seven etc.

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wellygary

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#1014617 28-Mar-2014 14:32

Mobile prefixes are 0 + 2 digits, fixedline a 0+ one digit,

From here http://www.tnzi.com/about-us/numbering-plan/, which is also reflected in the official ITU registed numbering plan http://www.itu.int/oth/T0202000099/en

"The New Zealand numbering format is: 64 + 8 or 9 or 10 digits.

Geographic area codes: 1-digit plus 7-digit number

64 + 24 Scott Base, Antarctica (64 + 2409 + four digits)
64 + 3 South Island (including Chatham Islands)
64 + 4 Wellington
64 + 6 Lower North Island
64 + 7 Central North Island
64 + 9 Auckland and upper North Island

Mobiles/pagers: 2-digit code plus 6-, 7- or 8-digit numbers

64 + 20 Mobile service
64 + 21 Mobile service
64 + 22 Mobile service
64 + 23 Mobile service
64 + 24 Mobile service (except 64 + 240)
64 + 25 Mobile service (network closed)
64 + 26 Paging service
64 + 27 Mobile service
64 + 28 Mobile Service
64 + 29 Mobile service "

+ this from Telecom
http://help.telecom.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/1463/~/how-do-i-know-if-a-mobile-number-is-with-telecom%3F

With the help of Number Portability you can have any mobile prefix 027, 021, 029, 022 and 028 with Telecom

Geektastic

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#1014631 28-Mar-2014 14:36

As to whether it is 'oh'or 'zero'

it is zero. 'oh' is a letter not a number.

hio77

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#1014632 28-Mar-2014 14:36

repeating my number for people, i always go 021 xx xx xxx simply because thats how i remember the number itself.

the gfs number i do as 021 xxx xx xxx.

still, i do things in odd ways, being dyslexic i see patterns rather than strings of numbers.

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kiwitrc

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#1014634 28-Mar-2014 14:38

Geektastic: As to whether it is 'oh'or 'zero'

it is zero. 'oh' is a letter not a number.

Correct but no one says zero two one

Jase2985

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#1014637 28-Mar-2014 14:42

i say mine as 027 xx-xx-xxx as its 2 sets of double numbers then three left over at the end. never say it as double xx double yy xxx.

Batwing

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#1014638 28-Mar-2014 14:42

kiwitrc:
Geektastic: As to whether it is 'oh'or 'zero'

it is zero. 'oh' is a letter not a number.

Correct but no one says zero two one

Radio Operator here, yes we do.

kiwitrc

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#1014641 28-Mar-2014 14:44

Batwing:
kiwitrc:
Geektastic: As to whether it is 'oh'or 'zero'

it is zero. 'oh' is a letter not a number.

Correct but no one says zero two one

Radio Operator here, yes we do.

What sort of radio do you operate?

Jase2985

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#1014644 28-Mar-2014 14:46

Batwing:
kiwitrc:
Geektastic: As to whether it is 'oh'or 'zero'

it is zero. 'oh' is a letter not a number.

Correct but no one says zero two one

Radio Operator here, yes we do.

but then you dont say five you say fife

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