Crimes of Innumeracy

The year 2000

The reason people tend to say "the year 2000" instead of just "2000" has to do with the way everyone used to say what year it was.

People pronounce the number 1999 differently than they do the year 1999: for the year they say, "Nineteen ninety-nine," but for the number they say, "One thousand nine hundred ninety-nine." Thus, it's always clear whether someone is referring to the year or the number.

But the year 2000 and the number 2000 are both pronounced the same way, which is why people tend to clarify them in speech. However, context should make it clear, and there are few cases in which it's necessary to include the words "the year."

I predict everything will be back to normal in 2010, since I suspect people will say "twenty ten" for the year and "two thousand ten" for the number. If it doesn't happen then, it will surely happen in 2101. If there's still an Internet at that point, I'll amend this page.

I'm still caught off guard when I have to give out the expiration date on my credit card, though. A few years ago, it was easy, since I could say "two ninety-eight," and it was OK in 2000 when it was "two two thousand." But on my new card it says "1/05" - I think the best thing to say is, "one oh five."