The letter W pisses me off (as well as the number 7, maybe 0)

Social Forums Non-Philosophical Chat
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What makes W different from the other letters? What about 7 and often 0? Think about it, maybe you can figure out why they piss me off so much. It’s the same thing for all three of them. One thing that’s true about W, 7 and 0 that isn’t true about other letters and other numbers.

Think about it, don’t give up, I’ll give you the answer below.

I really want you to think about it.

I think you might be able to get it, don’t look at the spoiler.

They are pronounced with multiple syllables. Dou-ble-you. Sev-ven. Ze-ro. All the other letters and numbers are single syllable pronunciation. These stupid exceptions need to be fixed.

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I instinctively clicked on the spoiler before I even read the post properly. I failed that particular IQ test quite miserably it seems.

Very good point though.

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To add onto that, I hate it when someone is reading out a phone number or spelling a word and they say “double” for two consecutive symbols. 07994. Oh seven nine nine four. Not oh seven double nine four. Saying “double” really throws me off.

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Me too. Back in my support days over the phone people would do that, and it spoils the flow completely and makes you do a double-take (pun intended). Clear, precise and unambiguous is what you want, not phonetic shortcuts that don’t save any time at all and just muddy the waters.

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exactly. your brain is primed to expect numbers and then in the middle of this sequence of numbres this person says the word “double”, or sometimes worse! in england they’ll even throw in the occassional “treble” – why are you saying that word?!?!?! You’re supposed to be giving me numbers, not “treble”s, what the fuck?

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And funnily enough it takes more syllables to say “double one” than to say “one one”

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Oh but it gets worse, people make up their own phonetic alphabet and think it’s somehow as effective as the one already in place. Stuff like “C for cellar”. I think the phonetic alphabet should be taught at an early age, and anyone who makes up their own should have to sit in the corner for a while and think about what they’ve done.

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Y as in you

E as in eye

S as in sea

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I know a lot of the NATO phonetic alphabet but I always forget the one for U

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E as in eye, aye?

Adds yet another layer of complexity in Scotland :joy:

Uniform.

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.

I thought it might be that.. a strange gripe to have, imo.. I say nought or O for zero, when calling out numbers. :woman_shrugging:

I tend to remember the phonetic letters after I’ve made up new ones, over the phone.. :sweat_smile: ..also.. once I’ve said the first few letters, it triggers the rest to manifest up from my memory.