When/why did this word choice start?

[mav_tu]

For as long as I can remember I was always taught to describe a decimal point as "point," e.g., 2.1 would be said two-point-one. Recently I hear everyone saying dot - so it would be two-dot-one.

Does anyone know what the difference is? Is it that engineers or computer programming people say it one way, so everyone else has adopted it? I know, random question... Just a question. Any input?

 

[CosworthRS]

This thread is rascist.

 

[mmustangsrus]

:lol:

 

[lobra97]

we used "point" in the Navy and (-) as tach as in regards to saying a space number on the ship. lik 1-2-3 (one tach two tach three)

 

[astrocreep96]

Probably about the time the "Dot-Com Bubble" occured.

I still say point. It always freaked me out though when people in the math department referred to Z as Zed, as in the "x, y, zed" axis.

 

[oilwell1415]

When I was in college alll of the foreigners said dot instead of point. I don't know if that's where it came from, but I suspect their use of the dot instead of point has something to do with the way they learned (didn't learn?) English.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

I use dot a lot because I work with IPs and whanot as part of meh jobz SON!

 

[mav_tu]

When I was in college alll of the foreigners said dot instead of point. I don't know if that's where it came from, but I suspect their use of the dot instead of point has something to do with the way they learned (didn't learn?) English.

When you say foreigners, do you mean Asian, Japanese, Chinese? They are some of, if not THE, fastest industrially growing nations in the world. I know we adapt to the way they say and do a lot of things in the business world. If their corporate execs started saying "dot," it would be reasonable to assume other industry leaders adopted it to make communication more uniform. Hummm....

 

[BigSweezey]

I always thought it had to do with "point" being a decimal amount, or a figure(like money, or amounts). "Dot" like mentioned above would be for things like IP addresses.
Your not gonna hear anyone say, "One dot five billion dollars".

 

[oilwell1415]

When you say foreigners, do you mean Asian, Japanese, Chinese? They are some of, if not THE, fastest industrially growing nations in the world. I know we adapt to the way they say and do a lot of things in the business world. If their corporate execs started saying "dot," it would be reasonable to assume other industry leaders adopted it to make communication more uniform. Hummm....

Typically those from the Middle East, but Asians used it as well.

 

[HYBRED]

All the engineers I work with say point.

 

[ssj4sadie]

I use dot a lot because I work with IPs and whanot as part of meh jobz SON!

This

I always thought it had to do with "point" being a decimal amount, or a figure(like money, or amounts). "Dot" like mentioned above would be for things like IP addresses.
Your not gonna hear anyone say, "One dot five billion dollars".

And this

 

[FL-Orange]

All the engineers I work with say point.

^^This. I've never heard anyone use "dot" in the place of "point" where "point" is appropriate. If I did I would have to tell the person they were an idiot.

 

[Coiled03]

All the engineers I work with say point.

Same here. I'd have to pummel a dude who said two DOT one. WTF is that?

 

[oldmodman]

The intelligentsia say point, which is correct.

Kids say dot. Because it isn't saying point, which is what their parents and teachers use.

 

[CalcVictim]

All the engineers I work with say point.

^^This. I've never heard anyone use "dot" in the place of "point" where "point" is appropriate. If I did I would have to tell the person they were an idiot.

+2, all the engineers I work with also say "point", including myself.

 

[CBrowning84]

I think of dot used with words and point with numbers.

two point one
boobs dot com

 

[SpectorV]

software versions are in "dots" numbers are in "points"

 

[SNCBOOM]

I've never heard anyone use it in that way [other than where it is recurring like an IP address].

 

[ssj4sadie]

The intelligentsia say point, which is correct.

Kids say dot. Because it isn't saying point, which is what their parents and teachers use.

:rollseyes Darn those little rascals