1 Numbers - Uses of Zero

The number Zero requires a different name depending on the context in which we use it.

The different names of the number Zero for different areas of use are listed:

1. Nought or zero;
2. Zero;
3. Nil;
4. Love;
5. Oh or zero.

1. Zero/nought for decimals (British English)
   • 0.5 – zero point five / nought point five.
2. Zero for decimals (American English)
   • 0.5 – zero point five.
3. Nil for team games scores
   • Manchester United won three-nil.
4. Love for tennis (and some other similar sports)
   • She won the game fourteen-love.
5. Oh or zero for numerical list
   • My phone number is: six-seven-four-five-two-oh-one-oh-four (674 520 104).

Zero is a cardinal number used like the other numbers, but depending on the context it can require different names. You can use Zero for:

1. Decimals (British English): Nought or zero;
2. Decimals (American English): Zero;
3. Team games scores: Nil;
4. Tennis (and some other similar sports): Love;
5. Numerical list: Oh or zero.

The number Zero requires a different name such as nought, zero, nil, love and oh depending on the context you need to use it in.

For example:
— “Real Madrid won two-nil.” = For Team game scores, we use nil.
— “Her door number is zero-two-six.” = For numerical lists, we can use oh or zero.

Let’s revise this content within the [Form] section. Take a look at the [Example] section that shows its use within a context.