Why do some people put a horizontal dash through the number 7?

Question

My French teacher used to do that when I was a kid - I always used to think she did it to be "cool", but I have seen others do it as well. Is it a way to differentiate the number from algebraic variables? Is there any good reason to do this in a 5th grade French class!?

Answer 1

I tutor a kid in 6th grade and I can't tell the difference between his ones and his sevens. I myself started crossing my sevens a while back to avoid confusion. And I live in Europe so according to the previous posts I am allowed to... =)

Answer 2

The French, under Napoleon, began doing it so that a record created with a 7 could not be altered to a 1. Given the font here, and careless writing, one can see how similar they could be to begin with.

Supposedly.

Logically, since that really only fixes half the problem (a one could still gain a dash to become a 7) and the true fix, putting the dash on the 1 actually solves the problem fully, it really doesn't make sense. Of course, Napoleon was often a bull-headed idiot whose genius was for the battlefield and policing the ruled over nobility and masses so who can say. But it makes little sense.

What makes more sense is that they simply wanted to distinguish 1's and 7's a little more clearly with no hint of concern for the possibility of record alteration. Just for improved readability. Which it accomplishes, so long as one's 7's look like this font and do not have a little descender from the horizontal bar. When they do, the dash and carelessness can make the 7's and 9's confusing...

Simple as that though, I am sure. Just to improve readability. It was not picked up by the English and certainly not here in the US.

The good reason to do it IN French class, in whatever grade, is the immersion into all things French which helps you feel the French not just learn words, irregular verbs and a (poor) accent! They, um, maybe should serve wine too, by that logic... so, um, maybe your teacher could compromise and not grade down if you make a 7 like you were taught so painfully in kindergarten!

Answer 3

Many, if not most European countries are taught to write the number 7 that way. Many of them write the number 1 with an upsweep and then down - perhaps as a way to differenciate between the numbers 1 and 7 then, they stroked through the 7. I hope someone from Europe answers though.

Answer 4

There is a reason you saw a French teacher do it. I've lived in Europe a while, and in Europe the 7 just has a dash through it. It doesn't change anything at all, so don't worry!
Have a great day!

Answer 5

I used to do this. I still do actually, more often than not.
I was told the reason why people do it to. But I don't remember exactly.
If you think about it, there a few ways to write numbers.
Some people write 'one' as just a straight line. Others add the 'tip' or 'base' = 1
Some people write 3 either in curves or with a 'flat top'
Some people write four with a point at the top, or leave it open
Know what I mean?
I just don't know why is all.

Answer 6

It's the original way the number was written in arabic. Look at a 7 with the line through it and count the angles. Get it, seven angles = 7.

Answer 7

Because in Europe the number 1 is written with a 'top' and looks sorta like a 7.

Answer 8

I also learned that technique while living in Europe.

I believe it was to differentiate 7 from being mistaken as a 4

Same for a stroke through 0 (zero) so that it is not mistaken as an O (oh)

Answer 9

That is how my teacher in catholic school showed me how to do my 7's it also helps when debating if it is a 1 or a 7...hope it helps..I have made my 7's like that since 2nd grade sooo

Answer 10

Different Countries teach how do write numbers and letters different, in most central American countries thats how they write out the 7 as well as some European countried I would imagine