I hear many people say the number zero as the letter o
2006-12-27 06:31:59 · 16 answers · asked by Chris C 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Operator.
On a telephone dial, the number 0 can be dialed to reach an operator. Despite the fact that there is also an O on the number 6, "dial oh for operator" made it into the language rather than "dial zero for operator."
Advertising reinforced this because it is quicker and it sounds better to say "oh" rather than "zero" when you are giving a telephone number ("dial ate oh oh" rather than "dial ate zero zero").
2006-12-27 06:33:02 · answer #1 · answered by Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know, it's annoying, because it can confuse the number 0, with the letter o on a telephone number.
2006-12-27 14:40:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't have the answer, but I'd like to comment that this is one of my pet peeves! I use the analogy .... You wouldn't use the letter I in place of a one, so why us an O in place of a zero.
2006-12-27 14:36:22 · answer #3 · answered by baxteray 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always say "zero", but I notice on the East Coast, they say "oh" a lot instead.
2006-12-27 15:56:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always say O. It's an abbreviated term for Zero. Zer-O. Get it?
2006-12-27 14:44:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i guess we're slow?? and many people don't knwo how to read numbers so they just say oh,instead of zero.
2006-12-27 15:03:50 · answer #6 · answered by amanahill 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably because having only one syllable, "oh" is quicker and easier to say than "zeer-oh".
2006-12-27 16:22:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it looks the same and is easier to say
2006-12-27 14:35:02 · answer #8 · answered by cjp10990 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because no one has corrected them.
2006-12-27 14:40:27 · answer #9 · answered by BeloyeMore 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's one less syllable.
2006-12-27 14:34:22 · answer #10 · answered by James L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋