Ques. about abbr. "ea." Other usage than "each"?
Lars Eighner
In our last episode <6nf38s$4iv$1...@usenet44.supernews.com>,
the lovely and talented "Dorutomi" <doru...@nuri.net>
broadcast on alt.usage.english:
<Thank you for your attention.
<
<I live in Korea and Korean is my native tongue.
<I have a question which wasn't answered by looking up the dictionary.
<
<I know the abbreviation "ea." stands for the word "each." Is there another
<meaning for "ea." than "each"?
Not in general use. While in some special subject or particular context
there might be another use for "ea." most native speakers will suppose
it means "each" in ordinary circumstances.
<In Korea, some people use "ea." after the count of something, e.g. 14ea (or
<EA) if there are 14 units of the same thing. If you buy 14 apples they write
<down "14ea (EA)" under the quantity column of the receipt. Is this correct
<usage of the abbreviation?
No. Typical American usage would be "$ .25 ea." (actually it would probably
use the "cent" symbol which is not in ASCII). That means one item (each)
costs $0.25. Much produce (fruits and vegetables) is sold by weight.
If there were just a sign over the apples that says "89 <cent sign>"
an American shopper would think the apples are 89 cents per pound
(reasonable or even cheap). But "89 <cent sign> ea." would mean
one apple costs 89 cents (expensive). Sometimes things are sold
in boxes or bags so it is not clear how many items are enclosed.
The number of items, if stated, is the count, and in the US this
is sometimes abbreviated "ct." ("Cnt." would be avoided because
it suggests a common word for vagina.)
<As the only meaning of "ea." I know of is "each," I think it's incorrect but
<someone told me that in his business dealings, he had seen many instances
<of this usage by Americans. So I am kind of perplexed.
It seems possible that this might occur in some situation
where 14 boxes were ordered and it was meant to indicate
the boxes contained 24 items each (ea.). A typical
American invoice would have a "unit price" column
and it might have a price and ea. in it -- or price
and doz. (dozen), or price and lbs. (pounds--weight).
So some lines of an invoice might be like this:
3 foos -- red velvet -- @ $1.88 ea. 5.64
2 doz. bars -- green silk-- @ $3.99 doz. 7.98
1 box foobars 24 ct. @ $5.50 ea. 5.50
A box of foobars has 24 items in it. But the invoice makes clear
foobars are sold by the box, so all 24 items cost $5.50 (that is,
in "$5.50 ea." ea. refers to each box.
However "14ea apples" doesn't make much sense to me. It would
be:
14 apples @ .25 ea.
if I were writing the invoice.
"Ct" is also an abbreviation for "carat" (gem weight and gold
purity) and "cent," but in context there is not likely to be
any confusion. If you are buying gems or gold jewelry, you
had better be sure you know what you are getting.
<Can anybody help me out?
Greengrocers are not regarded as reliable guides to English
usage.
--
Lars Eighner 700 Hearn #101 Austin TX 78703 eig...@io.com
(512) 474-1920 (FAX answers 6th ring) http://www.io.com/%7Eeighner/
Please visit my web bookstore: http://www.io.com/%7Eeighner/bookstor.html
* BOYCOTT MAINE: Save the gay lobsters!
Dorutomi
Thank you for your attention.
I live in Korea and Korean is my native tongue.
I have a question which wasn't answered by looking up the dictionary.
I know the abbreviation "ea." stands for the word "each." Is there another
meaning for "ea." than "each"?
In Korea, some people use "ea." after the count of something, e.g. 14ea (or
EA) if there are 14 units of the same thing. If you buy 14 apples they write
down "14ea (EA)" under the quantity column of the receipt. Is this correct
usage of the abbreviation?
As the only meaning of "ea." I know of is "each," I think it's incorrect but
someone told me that in his business dealings, he had seen many instances
of this usage by Americans. So I am kind of perplexed.
Can anybody help me out?
Nice day.
Dorutomi
Mr. Lars Eighner posted a very kind and prompt reply to my question.
I thank him very much.
I also thank the group.
Have a nice summer, you all.
Dorutomi from Seoul, Korea
Lei Tanabe
Dorutomi wrote in message <6nffbp$9f1$1...@news.nuri.net>...
>Mr. Lars Eighner posted a very kind and prompt reply to my question.
>I thank him very much.
>I also thank the group.
>
>Have a nice summer, you all.
>
It's winter, here.
Lei (New Zealand)
Armond Perretta
>Lei Tanabe wrote: ... It's winter, here.
Surely you don't mind waiting.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat (remove "BOAT")
Steve Dunbar
On Thu, 2 Jul 1998 13:41:30 +0900, Dorutomi <doru...@nuri.net> wrote:
...
>I know the abbreviation "ea." stands for the word "each." Is there another
>meaning for "ea." than "each"?
>In Korea, some people use "ea." after the count of something, e.g. 14ea (or
>EA) if there are 14 units of the same thing. If you buy 14 apples they write
>down "14ea (EA)" under the quantity column of the receipt. Is this correct
>usage of the abbreviation?
Yes, it does stand for "each." It's used to distinguish items that are
sold as individual items from those that are sold by the dozen, hundred,
gross, pound, foot, etc.
-- Steve
StrayShots
mile, pint). The savings of two letters just doesn't seem worthwhile.
: SS
"With my cross-bow
I shot the Albatross."
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