4 ms·

Fun fact: it's a dot, not a "decimal point". That dot has many interpretations; in dates, sometimes it separates the month from year, or the day from a month.

by kmarc 3y ago

Fun fact: it's a dot, not a "decimal point". That dot has many interpretations; in dates, sometimes it separates the month from year, or the day from a month. In version numbers, it separates major from minor, etc. It's so much not a "decimal point", that in some languages (Hungarian and German, for instance) it is a thousands separator, whereas for decimal fractions a comma is used (10,000.00 in English is 10.000,00 in Hungarian, making Excel flip) It is really just a dot. Our interpretation is what makes it a certain kind of separator. Or not a separator at all, like at the end of this sentence.

koonsolo 3y ago
I don't agree. I'm from Belgium and I also use a comma, but that doesn't mean I would put hours and minutes as 8.35 or 8,35. No, it's 8:35. Numbers with a dot or comma means it's decimal. Your date reference makes no sence because either / or - is used in those cases, not dots or comma's. Basically, having a dot or comma adds to the confusion when working with non decimal numbers.
- taway1237 3y ago
  >Your date reference makes no sence because either / or - is used in those cases, not dots or comma's. In my (european) country a dot is used - for example 5.11.2023.
- burnerburnito 3y ago
  Good point, the system would work just as well if it was something like: w36:2 But it wouldn't cause nearly as much confusion or decimal place issues relating to improper automation.
- kmarc 3y ago
  > Numbers with a dot or comma means it's decimal. But... It doesn't in IP addresses, version numbers, dates, with different locales, and possibly many other uses. These examples clearly show that "numbers with a dot" doesn't always mean decimal. A dot is a dot. Mainly with the _role_ of a separator. When you interpret it, it might mean a _decimal_ separator for you, but as well might mean a thousand-separator for MS excel with the German locale.
- pezezin 3y ago
  That depends on the country. For example, in Japan it is very common to write dates with either a dot, or with the full kanjis for year, month and day.

by kmarc 3y ago

koonsolo 3y ago

I don't agree. I'm from Belgium and I also use a comma, but that doesn't mean I would put hours and minutes as 8.35 or 8,35. No, it's 8:35. Numbers with a dot or comma means it's decimal. Your date reference makes no sence because either / or - is used in those cases, not dots or comma's. Basically, having a dot or comma adds to the confusion when working with non decimal numbers.

taway1237 3y ago
>Your date reference makes no sence because either / or - is used in those cases, not dots or comma's. In my (european) country a dot is used - for example 5.11.2023.
burnerburnito 3y ago
Good point, the system would work just as well if it was something like: w36:2 But it wouldn't cause nearly as much confusion or decimal place issues relating to improper automation.
kmarc 3y ago
> Numbers with a dot or comma means it's decimal. But... It doesn't in IP addresses, version numbers, dates, with different locales, and possibly many other uses. These examples clearly show that "numbers with a dot" doesn't always mean decimal. A dot is a dot. Mainly with the _role_ of a separator. When you interpret it, it might mean a _decimal_ separator for you, but as well might mean a thousand-separator for MS excel with the German locale.
pezezin 3y ago
That depends on the country. For example, in Japan it is very common to write dates with either a dot, or with the full kanjis for year, month and day.