O or zero in a phone #

[Alyssa]

I was listening to someone give a phone # the other day. Let's just say it was 603 555 0044. (I hope that isn't a real #!) They said:

6 OH 3 555 ZERO ZERO 44.

And then again later they said another number, something like 6 OH 3 5 ZERO 5 9988.

In other words, no rhyme or reason to how they were using "O" v. zero.

It got me thinking that I will also mix using "O" and zero when giving certain numbers. I feel like zero is proper but sounds awkward. What do you say?

[Shannan]

People have a hard time understanding me sometimes but I do say zero more than oh...

[Jessica]

I try to say "zero" at work because I think it sounds proper. The rest of the time, I tend to say "O." I sometimes end up saying "O" at work too, but I make an effort to use "zero."

[AmyP]

I use both, but I generally use O before zero.

[TtownAnne]

I'm working hard to say zero, but sometimes O just sounds more right, kwim? Like when I was giving my credit card number for something on the phone, I said 7-OH-43. If it's in the middle of other number, Oh sounds better, but if it's at the end, zero sounds better. One of those mysteries of the universe.

[LISA]

I almost alway's say 0

[Eva]

I usually say "0"

[Brooke]

I usually say O but sometimes I'll say zero if someone is having trouble hearing me.

[Nadine]

I voted zero but actually it is a mix.

[valeria73]

I voted zero. I only say OH if I'm giving my area code locally (since *everyone* in DC/MD/VA says "seven oh three"). Otherwise, it's zero, 'cause I'm a fast talker and a mumbler. ;)

[Cami]

I do it like the person Alyssa heard, no rhyme or reason. If I think before I talk, I say zero.

[Susan]

I only say OH if I'm giving my area code locally (since *everyone* in DC/MD/VA says "seven oh three"). Not me. I say 571. :lol:

I do say seven oh three, six oh three, 5 oh 9, or my old zip which was oh one eight eight six. Gosh, do I ever say ZERO? :scan:

[Mandi]

Zero, zero, zero! It drives me up a frickin wall when people say "O". "O" is a letter of the alphabet, not a number, people! :lol:

[Nichole]

I do a mix, too. With phone numbers, it's usually "oh" but things like credit card numbers or account numbers, I'll usually say "zero" so there aren't any mistakes.

[Stacey]

I do a mix, too. With phone numbers, it's usually "oh" but things like credit card numbers or account numbers, I'll usually say "zero" so there aren't any mistakes.
That's what I was going to say. :nod:

[Isaiah's Momma]

I never really thought of this before, but I say O for the area code and pretty much zero for every thing else.

[Melissa]

I try to say zero as much as possible, but an "O" will slip in every now and again.

[Clare]

I've got lots of 0's in my mobile phone number and I say zero. But there's one in my postcode and I say oh for that one :dunno:

[Bridget]

O REALLY?Zero, zero, zero! It drives me up a frickin wall when people say "O". "O" is a letter of the alphabet, not a number, people! :lol:

[magoo]

I voted zero. I only say OH if I'm giving my area code locally (since *everyone* in DC/MD/VA says "seven oh three"). Otherwise, it's zero, 'cause I'm a fast talker and a mumbler. ;)
Same here. Just like the highway is the 4-oh-1. I used to say "oh" all the time, but I've made the switch to "zero" about 99% of the time.

[Karri]

I do a mix, too. With phone numbers, it's usually "oh" but things like credit card numbers or account numbers, I'll usually say "zero" so there aren't any mistakes.

Same here.

[Bonnie]

I have 2 zeros in my home # and one zero in my work #.... I always say "zero". I think it's b/c when I was a kid, the first 3 numbers were 769, but my dad always said "R O 9": as in Rogers 9, as in the olden days when people's phone numbers started with letters. To me, "oh" is the letter O for pretty much everything, but I do say "oh" for my zip code.

[Bev]

Nine times out of ten I'll say Zero. Except for the 4-oh-1 Sarah mentioned. :lol:

For my postal code I use the phonetic alphabet. November-#-Bravo #-Victor-#. Always. I think it freaks people out sometimes though. :lol:

If I'm spelling a name I use the phonetic alphabet too. Especially for B, P, V or M and N; mostly for things that are hard to differentiate over the phone. And for making airline or other similar reservations, I always use the 24hr clock. It's much easier, I think and makes mistakes less likely. :)

[Kara]

I have 2 zeros in mine and I always say zero..And when we taught it to Josh we taught him Zero too.