英语数字书写规则
在汉英笔译和英语写作中,经常会遇到数字;哪些场合用单词表示,哪些场合用阿拉伯数字表示,往往让人难以确定,现行语法书中也极少涉及此类问题。 实际上,以英语为母语的国家,在书写数字时已形成几条约定俗成的规则,现总结如下供读者参考。[b] 一、英美等国的出版社在排版时遵循一条原则,即1至10用单词表示,10以上的数目用阿拉伯数字(也有的以100为界限),这条原则值得我们借鉴。[/b]
That table measures ten feet by five.
那个工作台长10英尺,宽5英尺。
The traditional pattern of classroom experience at the college level brings the professor and a group of 20 to 30 students together for a 45-to-50-minute class session two or three times a week.
大学课堂的传统的教学方式是,一个教授和二三十名学生每周见面两三次,每次授课时间45到50分钟。
[b]二. 人数用阿拉伯数字表示显得更简洁明了,但不定数量、近似值用单词表示较恰当。[/b]
There are 203817 voters on the electoral rolls.
选举名单上有203817个投票人。
Nearly thirty thousand voters took part in this election.
近3万个投票人参加了这次选举。
[b]三. 遇到日期、百分比、带单位的特殊数字,通常用阿拉伯数字。[/b]
Maximum swivel of table is l20.
工作台的最大旋转角度是120度。
Eg. 3rd March l991或3 March l991;
a discount of 5 percent(5%的折扣);
purchased 7 yards of carpet(买7码地毯);
ordered 2 pounds of minced steak(订购2磅肉馅)
如果涉及的数目和单位是不定数,可用单词表示。
about five miles per hour(每小时大约5英里)
at least ten yards away(至少有10码远)
hesitated for a moment or two(犹豫了片刻)
I have warned you a hundred times(我已经警告你多少遍了。)
[b]四. 在科技文章中,数字频繁出现,用阿拉伯数字比用单词陈述更有利。[/b]
The new engine has a capacity of 4.3 litres and a power output of 153 kilowatts at 4400 revolutions per minute.
这台新发动机的容积为4.3升,转速为每分钟4400转,时输出功率是153千瓦。
We know that the weight of a cubic foot of air at 0?C and 76cm,pressure is 0.08l pound, or 12 cubic feet of air weigh a pound.
我们知道,1立方英尺的空气在0摄氏度和760毫米汞柱压力下,重量是0.81磅,也就是说12立方英尺空气的重量是1磅。
[b]五. 句首不用阿拉伯数字,句末要尽量避免用阿拉伯数字。[/b]
4th July is an important date in American history.
应该写成The fourth of July...
19 couples took part in the ballroom dancing competition.
19对选手参加了交际舞比赛。
应改写成:Nineteen couples took...
60% profit was a reported.
据报道有60%的利润。
应改写成:Sixty per cent profit…
1345 kilograms force was applied at the center point of the bar.
试验时,在杆的中点加了1345公斤力。
可改成When tested, a force of l345kg was applied...
[b]六. 遇到分数,可用带连字符的单词表示。[/b]
[[i] 本帖最后由 xln1120 于 2008-12-23 04:28 PM 编辑 [/i]]
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