who started it? why do some say "o" instead of saying zero?
2006-08-01 08:13:45 · 9 answers · asked by John 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
I like what the person above me said - it made me laugh!
this is a good question and it has obviously written by a mathematician, or at least someone who likes maths.
This phenomenon was started by people who hate maths and have 'Maths Phobia" as a kind of revenge on people who like maths. These people are more 'into' literature than maths. It began in the Victorian times by women who were very rarely allowed to study maths.
Hope that helps:>)
2006-08-01 09:45:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Just because it is quicker I guess. I say O sometimes, unless I am telling someone a number - like a credit card number or license number which may have both- then to distinguish I would definitely say Zero instead of O. Zero Kay?
2006-08-01 08:20:50 · answer #2 · answered by verdes0j0s 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the technical world they aren't because it can have adverse effects. O and 0 are as different as S and 3. Why the illiterate can't use them correctly is beyond me.
2006-08-01 08:19:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The only thing that comes to mind is that "oh" is quicker and easier to say than "zero", especially if you have to say it a lot, like operators, or dispatchers.
2006-08-01 11:31:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on usage really. Like... O I didn't notice you instead of He's a big fat 0. See?
2006-08-01 08:18:34 · answer #5 · answered by TheGuru 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Laziness. I do it all the time and I know it's wrong. It's one syllable less to say. And they look the same when you write them (depending on your handwriting and/or the font).
2006-08-03 01:30:22 · answer #6 · answered by Gevera Bert 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm with all of the posts above. Actually they are below but..... :-)
2014-08-10 16:32:43 · answer #7 · answered by David 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a short cut for Zer - O
2006-08-01 08:18:33 · answer #8 · answered by chante 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's just easier to say
2006-08-01 08:18:00 · answer #9 · answered by VetteLeo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋