6 ms·
Maybe not "tooth", but why do we use the phrases "a third" and "a fourth" for fractions, but not "a second" for half?
by shasta 13y ago
Maybe not "tooth", but why do we use the phrases "a third" and "a fourth" for fractions, but not "a second" for half?
- arethuza 13y agoPerhaps because of the potential confusion with "a second" being used to mean "another" i.e. 2X rather than 1/2X. e.g. I could eat a second pizza Do I mean another pizza or half a pizza? [OK it should be phrased as "a second of a pizza" - but that is rather close to "a second pizza"]
- warbastard 13y agoYou can say "a third of a pizza" and not be confused though, so there's no difference in saying "a second of a pizza" if that were indeed an accepted use of the word.
- wernercd 13y agoSecondth?
- jperras 13y agoNot that I have a better answer, I believe the phrase "a third of a pizza" is just as confusing.
- arethuza 13y agoYou are, of course, quite correct. I should make a mental note to comment on HN while actually focusing on something else..... :-)
- bmohlenhoff 13y agoThird can be used both as a noun and an adjective. Noun form: "A third of a pizza". Adjective form: "A third pizza".
- mcdoh 13y agoBecause we should be saying "one third", "one fourth", etc., but it's a little bit faster to say "a third".