Numbers
Numerical Expressions
Decimals
Read decimals by expressing the number before the point, followed by the word 'point' and each individual number.
Example:
8.47 - eight point four seven
5.92 - five point nine two
Percentages
Read percentages by expressing the percentage followed by the word 'percent'.
Example:
81% - eighty one percent
94% - ninety four percent
Fractions
Read the top fraction followed by the number + 's'
12/13 - twelve thirteenths
14/18 fourteen eighteenths
NOTE: 1/4 =>one quarter, 2/3 => two thirds, 1/2 one half
Number Expressions
These expressions are used with numerical expressions:
Speed -- 100 mph
Weight -- 80 kg
Telephone number -- 0171 895 7056
Decimal -- .087
Date -- 12/04/65
Percentage -- 75%
Temperature -- 28° C
Height -- 1 m 89 cm
Price -- $60
Fraction -- 8/13
Score -- 2-1
Showing Growth or Decline
Useful Verbs
rise
increase
go up by X %.
Example:
The number of paper documents has gone up since we implemented the supposedly paperless operations.
The cost of our paperless operations increased with the price of oil.
decline
decrease
go down
Example:
The time available to label the product declined as the number of orders increased.
The power required to machine the product decreased when we upgraded our equipment.
Useful Adverbs
Increase / Decrease
sharply
dramatically.
steadily.
slowly.
rapidly.
haltingly.
Example:
We slowly increased the rate of personnel turnover.
Incidents involving personnel rotation increased sharply last month.