English Xxist Or 21st Century? Which One Is Correct? Both?

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Marta Sunday 22nd of January 2006 09:55:31 PM
XXIst OR 21st century? - I've always thought that Roman numerals are the correct ones. We always write 'XIXth' not '19th' in Polish. But my American professor corrected all my dates in my last essay (as it was an essay on history it was full of dates:D ). Is it really incorrect to use 'XXth' for centuries? What about other numbers (e.g. Amendments to the American Constitution)?

EvanescenceChibi Sunday 22nd of January 2006 10:59:07 PM
- Yeah, we use '20th' or '21st', not Roman numerals, when expressing numbers. (Well, informally, I suppose).

There is this way of formatting outlines and notes and stuff in which Roman numerals are used, though. That's the only time I can think of where I'd actually use them. Otherwise, I always use '1(st)', etc.

Marta Sunday 22nd of January 2006 11:26:43 PM
- Ok, thanks:)
Is it the same in other languages?

leobloom Sunday 22nd of January 2006 11:56:44 PM
- Hi!
well, I can tell you that, for example, XX [i]per se[/i] already means 20th in Latin numeral adjectives so XXth [b]is[/b] wrong and I assume that every language using Roman numbers should follow that rule (also Italian, but most of Italians forget it ;)

Marta Monday 23rd of January 2006 12:14:00 AM
- Yeah, of course you're right! Somehow I didn't realise that this rule would apply also to English:D
20th century = XX wiek [i]in Polish[/i]

Thanks!

EvanescenceChibi Monday 23rd of January 2006 06:02:45 AM
- Ooh, I remember another time when we use Roman numerals: for numbering the Super Bowl (the final game of the post-season in American football).

This year is Super Bowl XL (40). (Incidentally, that could also means Super Bowl extra-large ;) XL is short for extra-large, heheh).

leobloom Friday 27th of January 2006 06:07:23 PM
- maybe because Roman numbers look [i]cooler[/i] than Arabic ones =o)

Phrasebase Archive
	Marta	Sunday 22nd of January 2006 09:55:31 PM
	XXIst OR 21st century? - I've always thought that Roman numerals are the correct ones. We always write 'XIXth' not '19th' in Polish. But my American professor corrected all my dates in my last essay (as it was an essay on history it was full of dates:D ). Is it really incorrect to use 'XXth' for centuries? What about other numbers (e.g. Amendments to the American Constitution)?
	EvanescenceChibi	Sunday 22nd of January 2006 10:59:07 PM
	- Yeah, we use '20th' or '21st', not Roman numerals, when expressing numbers. (Well, informally, I suppose). There is this way of formatting outlines and notes and stuff in which Roman numerals are used, though. That's the only time I can think of where I'd actually use them. Otherwise, I always use '1(st)', etc.
	Marta	Sunday 22nd of January 2006 11:26:43 PM
	- Ok, thanks:) Is it the same in other languages?
	leobloom	Sunday 22nd of January 2006 11:56:44 PM
	- Hi! well, I can tell you that, for example, XX [i]per se[/i] already means 20th in Latin numeral adjectives so XXth [b]is[/b] wrong and I assume that every language using Roman numbers should follow that rule (also Italian, but most of Italians forget it ;)
	Marta	Monday 23rd of January 2006 12:14:00 AM
	- Yeah, of course you're right! Somehow I didn't realise that this rule would apply also to English:D 20th century = XX wiek [i]in Polish[/i] Thanks!
	EvanescenceChibi	Monday 23rd of January 2006 06:02:45 AM
	- Ooh, I remember another time when we use Roman numerals: for numbering the Super Bowl (the final game of the post-season in American football). This year is Super Bowl XL (40). (Incidentally, that could also means Super Bowl extra-large ;) XL is short for extra-large, heheh).
	leobloom	Friday 27th of January 2006 06:07:23 PM
	- maybe because Roman numbers look [i]cooler[/i] than Arabic ones =o)