Is it 0.5 miles or 0.5 mile?

[Paul Ferguson]

In a book where many distances will be given, should "mile" be
singular or plural when the distance is less than a mile and stated in
tenths?

Is it:

From the intersection it is 0.5 miles to the bridge.

or:

From the intersection it is 0.5 mile to the bridge.

Paul Ferguson

[Polar]

Miles.

--
Polar

[Mark Wallace]

Jim Patterson wrote:

> Paul, I think either is acceptable and plausible arguments could
> be put forth to support either one. However, in a single work,
> perhaps consistency in presentation should be the watchword.

Just to confound the issue even more: I read the first as 'point
five miles', and the second as 'half a mile'.

--
Mark Wallace
____________________________

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I'll give you bloody nanomachines!
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[George Hardy]

Polar <sme...@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:<pcrdlucdivihfjd72...@4ax.com>...

Correct. But, "He fell at the 0.5 mile point."

So, there are examples of both version.

GFH

[John Smith]

The -s form is used for quantities more or *less* than one. We also say
"zero miles."

\\P. Schultz

[mb]

"Mark Wallace" <mwallace...@dse.nl> wrote in message
<snip>

> >> From the intersection it is 0.5 miles to the bridge.
> >> or:
> >> From the intersection it is 0.5 mile to the bridge.
>

> Just to confound the issue even more: I read the first as 'point
> five miles', and the second as 'half a mile'.

You didn't confuse but clarified the issue.

[Mark Wallace]

Hey!
Cut that out!
I have a reputation to maintain, you know.

--
Mark Wallace
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