Template:Short description Template:For Template:Good article Template:Use dmy dates
The long and short scales are two powers of ten number naming systems that are consistent with each other for smaller numbers, but are contradictory for larger numbers.<ref name="Guitel1"> Template:Cite book </ref><ref name="Guitel2"> Template:Cite book </ref> Other numbering systems, particularly in East Asia and South Asia, have large number naming that differs from both the long and short scales. Such numbering systems include the Indian numbering system and Chinese, Japanese, and Korean numerals.<ref name="Guitel1" /><ref name="Guitel2" /> Much of the remainder of the world adopted either the short or long scale. Countries using the long scale include most countries in continental Europe and most that are French-speaking, German-speaking and Spanish-speaking.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Use of the short scale is found in most English and Arabic speaking countries, most Eurasian post-communist countries and Brazil.
For powers of ten less than 9 (one, ten, hundred, thousand, and million), the short and long scales are identical, but for larger powers of ten, the two systems differ in confusing ways. For identical names, the long scale grows by multiples of one million (106), whereas the short scale grows by multiples of one thousand (103). For example, the short scale billion is one thousand million (109), whereas in the long scale, billion is one million million (1012), making the word false friends between long and short scale languages. The long scale system includes additional names for interleaved values, typically replacing the word ending "-ion" with "-iard".
To avoid confusion, the International System of Units (SI) recommends using the metric prefixes to indicate magnitude. For example, giga is always 109, which is billion in short scale but milliard in long scale.
DefinitionEdit
In both scales, names are given to orders of magnitude at increments of 1000. Both systems use the same names for magnitudes less than 109. Differences arise from the use of identical names for larger magnitudes. For the same magnitude name (n-illion), the value is 103n+3 in the short scale but 106n in the long scale for positive integers n.<ref name="pilatol1" /><ref name="Guitel1" /><ref name="Guitel2" />
In some languages, the long scale uses additional names for the intermediate multipliers, replacing the ending -ion with -iard; for example, the next multiplier after million is milliard (109); after a billion it is billiard (1015). Hence, a long scale n-illiard equals 106n+3.
The following table shows the size of first few short and long scale magnitudes. Notice how billion and trillion are in both scales but have different sizes.
| Quantity | Short scale | Long scale |
|---|---|---|
| 106 | million | million |
| 109 | billion | milliard |
| 1012 | trillion | billion |
| 1015 | quadrillion | billiard |
| 1018 | quintillion | trillion |
| 1021 | sextillion | trilliard |
| 1024 | septillion | quadrillion |
| 1027 | octillion | quadrilliard |
ComparisonEdit
The following tables show the corresponding names and values of the two scales.
Note that instead of using an intermediate long scale word (illiard), a quantity is sometimes specified in terms of the smaller illion word. For example, "thousand billion" instead of "billiard".
| Value | Metric prefix | Short scale | Long scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | one | one | |
| 10 | deca | ten | ten |
| 102 | hecto | hundred | hundred |
| 103 | kilo | thousand | thousand |
| 106 | mega | million | million |
| 109 | giga | billion | milliard |
| 1012 | tera | trillion | billion |
| 1015 | peta | quadrillion | billiard |
| 1018 | exa | quintillion | trillion |
| 1021 | zetta | sextillion | trilliard |
| 1024 | yotta | septillion | quadrillion |
| 1027 | ronna | octillion | quadrilliard |
| 1030 | quetta | nonillion | quintillion |
The different sizes of the same name of the two scales can be described as:
| Name | Short scale | Long scale |
|---|---|---|
| million | 106 | 106 |
| billion | 109 | 1012 |
| trillion | 1012 | 1018 |
| quadrillion | 1015 | 1024 |
| quintillion | 1018 | 1030 |
| . . . |
. . . |
Avoiding confusionEdit
One way to avoid confusion between the two scales is to use positional notation. For example, 1,000,000,000,000 rather than 1 trillion (short scale) or 1 billion (long scale). This method becomes unwieldy for very large numbers.
Combinations of the unambiguous words: ten, hundred, thousand, and million. For example: one thousand million and one million million.<ref> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Scientific notation (for example 1Template:E), or its engineering notation variant (for example 10Template:E), or the computing variant E notation (for example 1e10). This is the most common practice among scientists and mathematicians.
SI metric prefixes. For example, giga for 109 and tera for 1012 can give gigawatt (109 W) and terawatt (1012 W).<ref name="si" /> Use with non-SI units is unambiguous. For example, giga-dollars, megabucks, k€, and M€.
HistoryEdit
Although this situation has been developing since the 1200s, the first recorded use of the terms short scale (Template:Langx) and long scale (Template:Langx) was by the French mathematician Geneviève Guitel in 1975.<ref name="Guitel1" /><ref name="Guitel2" />
The short scale was never widespread before its general adoption in the United States. It has been taught in American schools since the early 1800s.<ref name="Smith" /> It has since become common in other English-speaking nations and several other countries. For most of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the United Kingdom largely used the long scale,<ref name="pilatol1">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="fowler"> Template:Cite book </ref> whereas the United States used the short scale,<ref name="fowler" /> so that the two systems were often referred to as British and American in the English language. After several decades of increasing informal British usage of the short scale, in 1974 the government of the UK adopted it,<ref name="haroldwilson"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref> and it is used for all official purposes.<ref name="odonnell"> Template:Cite news </ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="comrie"> Template:Cite mailing list </ref><ref name="oxford"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref><ref name="oxford2"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref><ref name="nielsen"> Template:Cite book</ref> The British usage and American usage are now identical.
The existence of the different scales means that care must be taken when comparing large numbers between languages or countries, or when interpreting old documents in countries where the dominant scale has changed over time. For example, British English, French, and Italian historical documents can refer to either the short or long scale, depending on the date of the document, since each of the three countries has used both systems at various times in its history. Today, the United Kingdom officially uses the short scale, but France and Italy use the long scale.
The pre-1974 former British English word billion, post-1961 current French word billion, post-1994 current Italian word bilione, Spanish billón, German Billion, Dutch biljoen, Danish billion, Swedish biljon, Finnish biljoona, Slovenian bilijon, Polish bilion, and European Portuguese word bilião (with a different spelling to the Brazilian Portuguese variant, but in Brazil referring to short scale) all refer to 1012, being long-scale terms. Therefore, each of these words translates to the American English or post-1974 British English word: trillion (1012 in the short scale), and not billion (109 in the short scale).
On the other hand, the pre-1961 former French word billion, pre-1994 former Italian word bilione, Brazilian Portuguese word bilhão, and Welsh word biliwn all refer to 109, being short scale terms. Each of these words translates to the American English or post-1974 British English word billion (109 in the short scale).
The term billion originally meant 1012 when introduced.<ref name="Smith" /> In long scale countries, milliard was defined to its current value of 109, leaving billion at its original 1012 value and so on for the larger numbers.<ref name="Smith" /> Some of these countries, but not all, introduced new words billiard, trilliard, etc. as intermediate terms.<ref name="wortschatz_milliarde" /><ref name="wortschatz_billion" /><ref name="wortschatz_billiarde" /><ref name="wortschatz_trilliarde" /><ref name="it_gov" /> In some short scale countries, milliard was defined to 109 and billion dropped altogether, with trillion redefined down to 1012 and so on for the larger numbers.<ref name="Smith" /> In many short scale countries, milliard was dropped altogether and billion was redefined down to 109, adjusting downwards the value of trillion and all the larger numbers.
The root mil in million does not refer to the numeral, 1. The word, million, derives from the Old French, milion, from the earlier Old Italian, milione, an intensification of the Latin word, mille, a thousand. That is, a million is a big thousand, much as a great gross is a dozen gross or 12 × 144 = 1728.<ref name="Smith"> Template:Cite book</ref>
The word milliard, or its translation, is found in many European languages and is used in those languages for 109. However, it is not found in American English, which uses billion, and not used in British English, which preferred to use thousand million before the current usage of billion. The financial term yard, which derives from milliard, is used on financial markets, as, unlike the term billion, it is internationally unambiguous and phonetically distinct from million. Likewise, many long scale countries use the word billiard (or similar) for one thousand long scale billions (i.e., 1015), and the word trilliard (or similar) for one thousand long scale trillions (i.e., 1021), etc.<ref name="wortschatz_milliarde"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="wortschatz_billion"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="wortschatz_billiarde"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="wortschatz_trilliarde"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="it_gov"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref>
- Timeline
| Date | Event | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 13th century | The word million was not used in any language before the 13th century. The monk and polymath Maximus Planudes (Template:Circa–1305) was among the first recorded users of the word to document Mediterranean trade between Constantinople and Italian states.<ref name="Smith" /> Over the next two centuries, the term became widely accepted and was adopted by other Italian states, France and other European countries. | ||
| Late 14th century | File:Piers Plowman.jpg style }} {{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} Translation: <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} | ||
| 1475 | French mathematician Jehan Adam, writing in Middle French, recorded the words bymillion and trimillion as meaning 1012 and 1018 respectively in a manuscript Traicté en arismetique pour la practique par gectouers, now held in the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève in Paris.<ref name="traicte">Template:Cite book
</ref><ref name="bsg">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref> Template:Cite journal</ref> <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} Translation: <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} | |
| 1484 | File:Chuquet.gif style }} Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Chuquet2"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref name="Flegg">Template:Cite journalTemplate:Dead link</ref> used the words byllion, tryllion, quadrillion, quyllion, sixlion, septyllion, ottyllion, and nonyllion to refer to 1012, 1018, ... 1054. Most of the work was copied without attribution by Estienne de La Roche and published in his 1520 book, L'arismetique.<ref name="Chuquet1" /> Chuquet's original article was rediscovered in the 1870s and then published for the first time in 1880. <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} Translation: <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} The extract from Chuquet's manuscript, the transcription and translation provided here all contain an original mistake: one too many zeros in the 804300 portion of the fully written out example: 745324'8043000 '700023'654321 ... | |
| 1516 | French mathematician Budaeus (Guillaume Budé), writing in Latin, used the term milliart to mean "ten myriad myriad" or 109 in his book De Asse et partibus eius Libri quinque.<ref name="Bude">
Template:Cite book</ref> <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} Translation: <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} | ||
| 1549 | The influential French mathematician Jacques Pelletier du Mans used the name milliard (or milliart) to mean 1012, attributing the term to the earlier usage by Guillaume Budé<ref name="Bude" /> | ||
| 17th century | With the increased usage of large numbers, the traditional punctuation of large numbers into six-digit groups evolved into three-digit group punctuation. In some places, the large number names were then applied to the smaller numbers, following the new punctuation scheme. Thus, in France and Italy, some scientists then began using billion to mean 109, trillion to mean 1012, etc.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> This usage formed the origins of the later short scale. The majority of scientists either continued to say thousand million or changed the meaning of the Pelletier term, milliard, from "million of millions" down to "thousand million".<ref name="Smith"/> This meaning of milliard has been occasionally used in England,<ref name="fowler" /> but was widely adopted in France, Germany, Italy and the rest of Europe, for those keeping the original long scale billion from Adam, Chuquet and Pelletier. | ||
| 1676 | The first published use of milliard as 109 occurred in the Netherlands.<ref name="Smith" /><ref name="houck">Template:Cite book</ref>
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} Translation: <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} | ||
| 1729 | The short-scale meaning of the term billion had already been brought to the British American colonies. The first American appearance of the short scale value of billion as 109 was published in the Greenwood Book of 1729, written anonymously by Prof. Isaac Greenwood of Harvard College.<ref name="Smith" /> | ||
| Late 18th century | As early as 1762 (and through at least the early 20th century), the dictionary of the Académie française defined billion as a term of arithmetic meaning a thousand millions.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | ||
| Early 19th century | France widely converted to the short scale, and was followed by the U.S., which began teaching it in schools. Many French encyclopedias of the 19th century either omitted the long scale system or called it "désormais obsolète", a now obsolete system. Nevertheless, by the mid 20th century France would officially convert back to the long scale. | ||
| 1926 | H. W. Fowler's A Dictionary of Modern English Usage<ref name="fowler" /> noted
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} Although American English usage did not change, within the next 50 years, French usage changed from short scale to long, and British English usage changed from long scale to short. | ||
| 1948 | The 9th General Conference on Weights and Measures received requests to establish an International System of Units. One such request was accompanied by a draft French Government discussion paper, which included a suggestion of universal use of the long scale, inviting the short-scale countries to return or convert.<ref name="si1948">
{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> This paper was widely distributed as the basis for further discussion. The matter of the International System of Units was eventually resolved at the 11th General Conference in 1960. The question of long scale versus short scale was not resolved and does not appear in the list of any conference resolutions.<ref name="si1948" /><ref name="si1954"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 1960 | The 11th General Conference on Weights and Measures adopted the International System of Units (SI), with its own set of numeric prefixes.<ref name="si">
{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> SI is therefore independent of the number scale being used. SI also notes the language-dependence of some larger-number names and advises against using ambiguous terms such as billion, trillion, etc.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The National Institute of Standards and Technology within the US also considers that it is best that they be avoided entirely.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> | |
| 1961 | The French Government confirmed their official usage of the long scale in the Journal officiel (the official French Government gazette).<ref name="fr_gov">
Template:Cite journal</ref> | ||
| 1974 | British prime minister Harold Wilson explained in a written answer to the House of Commons that UK government statistics would from then on use the short scale,<ref name="odonnell" /> reported in Hansard for 20 December 1974:<ref name="haroldwilson" />
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }} The BBC and other UK mass media quickly followed the government's lead within the UK. During the last quarter of the 20th century, most other English-speaking countries (Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, etc.) either also followed this lead or independently switched to the short scale use. However, in most of these countries, some limited long scale use persists and the official status of the short scale use is not clear. | ||
| 1975 | French mathematician Geneviève Guitel introduced the terms long scale (Template:Langx) and short scale (Template:Langx) to refer to the two numbering systems.<ref name="Guitel1" /><ref name="Guitel2" /> | ||
| 1994 | The Italian Government confirmed their official usage of the long scale.<ref name="it_gov" /> |
Current usageEdit
Short scale usersEdit
English-speakingEdit
Most English-language countries and regions use the short scale with 109 being billion. For example:<ref group="shortscale note">English language countries: Apart from the United States, the long scale was used for centuries in many English language countries before being superseded in recent times by short scale usage. Because of this history, some long scale use persists<ref name="nielsen" /> and the official status of the short scale in anglophone countries other than the UK and US is sometimes obscure.<ref name="Smith" /> </ref>
- Template:AUS<ref group="shortscale note">Australian usage: In Australia, education, media outlets, and literature all use the short scale in line with other English-speaking countries. The current recommendation by the Australian Government Department of Finance and Deregulation (formerly known as AusInfo), and the legal definition, is the short scale.<ref name="rba">
{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref> As recently as 1999, the same department did not consider short scale to be standard, but only used it occasionally. Some documents use the term thousand million for 109 in cases where two amounts are being compared using a common unit of one 'million'. </ref><ref name="rba" />
- Template:CAN (English-speaking) see Using both below
- {{#invoke:flag||Ireland}} (English-speaking, Template:Langx, trilliún)
- REDIRECT Template:GBR<ref group="shortscale note">British usage: Billion has meant 109 in most sectors of official published writing for many years now. The UK government, the BBC, and most other broadcast or published mass media, have used the short scale in all contexts since the mid-1970s.<ref name="haroldwilson" /><ref name="odonnell" /><ref name="blastland">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="comrie" />Template:Paragraph break Before the widespread use of billion for 109, UK usage generally referred to thousand million rather than milliard.<ref name="oxford" /> The long scale term milliard, for 109, is obsolete in British English, though its derivative, yard, is still used as slang in the London money, foreign exchange, and bond markets. </ref><ref name="haroldwilson" /><ref name="odonnell" /><ref name="blastland" /><ref name="comrie" /><ref name="oxford" />
- Template:USA<ref group="shortscale note">American usage: In the United States, the short scale has been taught in school since the early 19th century. It is therefore used exclusively.<ref name="cambridge-billion">Template:Cite encyclopediaTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref name="cambridge-trillion">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> </ref><ref name="cambridge-billion" /><ref name="cambridge-trillion" /> Template:Div col end
Arabic-speakingEdit
Most Arabic-language countries and regions use the short scale with 109 being {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, except for a few countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE which use the word بليون {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} for 109. For example:<ref group="shortscale note">Arabic language countries: Most Arabic-language countries use: 106, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; 109, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; 1012, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; etc.<ref name="Arabic milyar">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Arabic trillion">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref> </ref><ref name="Arabic milyar" /><ref name="Arabic trillion" />
Other short scaleEdit
Other countries also use a word similar to trillion to mean 1012, etc. Whilst a few of these countries like English use a word similar to billion to mean 109, most like Arabic have kept a traditionally long scale word similar to milliard for 109. Some examples of short scale use, and the words used for 109 and 1012, are
- Template:BRA (Brazilian Portuguese: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}})
- Template:INA ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}})<ref group="shortscale note">Indonesian usage: Large numbers are common in Indonesia, in part because its currency (rupiah) is generally expressed in large numbers (the lowest common circulating denomination is Rp100 with Rp1000 is considered as base unit). The term {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, equivalent to million (106), is generally common in daily life. Indonesia officially employs the term {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (derived from the long scale Dutch word {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) for the number 109, with no exception. For 1012 and greater, Indonesia follows the short scale, thus 1012 is named {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}. The term {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (a thousand milliards) or more rarely {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (a million millions) or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (a millions after a million or a millions over a million) are also used for 1012 less often. Terms greater than {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} are not very familiar to Indonesians.<ref name="indonesia">Robson S. O. (Stuart O.), Singgih Wibisono, Yacinta Kurniasih. Javanese English dictionary Tuttle Publishing: 2002, Template:ISBN, 821 pages</ref></ref><ref name="indonesia" />
- Template:ISR (Hebrew: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}})
- {{#invoke:flag||Russia|}} ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}})
- {{#invoke:flag||Turkey}} ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}})
Long scale usersEdit
The long scale is used by most Continental European countries and by most other countries whose languages derive from Continental Europe (with the notable exceptions of Albania, Greece, Romania,<ref name="romanian">Template:Citation</ref> and Brazil). These countries use a word similar to billion to mean 1012. Some use a word similar to milliard to mean 109, while others use a word or phrase equivalent to thousand millions.
Dutch-speakingEdit
Template:Block indent Most Dutch-language countries and regions use the long scale with 109 = {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
French-speakingEdit
Most French-language countries and regions use the long scale with 109 = {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, for example:<ref group="longscale note">French usage: France, with Italy, was one of two European countries which converted from the long scale to the short scale during the 19th century, but returned to the original long scale during the 20th century. In 1961, the French Government confirmed their long scale status.<ref name="fr_gov" /><ref name="larousse-milliard">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="larousse-billion">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However the 9th edition of the dictionary of the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} describes {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} as an outdated synonym of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, and says that the new meaning of 1012 was decreed in 1961, but never caught on.<ref name=AF9-billion>Template:Cite encyclopediaTemplate:Dead link</ref> </ref><ref name="larousse-milliard" /><ref name="larousse-billion" />
- Template:CAN (Canadian French) see Using both below
- {{#invoke:flag||France}}
German-speakingEdit
Template:Block indent German-language countries and regions use the long scale with 109 = {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.
Portuguese-speakingEdit
With the notable exception of Brazil, a short scale country, most Portuguese-language countries and regions use the long scale with 109 = {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.
Spanish-speakingEdit
Most Spanish-language countries and regions use the long scale, for example:<ref group="longscale note">Spanish language countries: Spanish-speaking countries sometimes use {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (milliard)<ref name="dudas-millardo"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> for 109, but {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (thousand millions) is used more frequently. The word {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is sometimes used in the short scale sense in those countries more influenced by the United States, where "billion" means "one thousand millions". The usage of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} to mean "one thousand millions", controversial from the start, was denounced by the Royal Spanish Academy as recently as 2010,<ref name="real1"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref> but was finally accepted in a later version of the official dictionary as standard usage among educated Spanish speakers in the United States (including Puerto Rico).<ref name="real2"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref></ref><ref name="dudas-millardo" /><ref name="real1" />
- Template:ARG
- Template:MEX ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}})
- {{#invoke:flag||Spain}} ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or typ. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}})
Other long scaleEdit
Some examples of long scale use, and the words used for 109 and 1012, are
- Template:IRN (Persian: میلیارد {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, بیلیون {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, تریلیون {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) Template:Citation needed
- {{#invoke:flag||Italy}} ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) <ref group="longscale note">Italian usage: Italy, with France, was one of the two European countries which partially converted from the long scale to the short scale during the 19th century, but returned to the original long scale in the 20th century. In 1994, the Italian Government confirmed its long scale status.<ref name="it_gov" /> In Italian, the word {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} officially means 1012, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} means 1018, etc. Colloquially, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}<ref name="larousse-billione">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> can mean both 109 and 1012; {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Citation needed can mean both 1012 and (rarer) 1018 and so on. Therefore, in order to avoid ambiguity, they are seldom used. Forms such as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (milliard) for 109, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (a thousand milliards) for 1012, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (a million milliards) for 1015, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (a milliard of milliards) for 1018, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (a thousand milliard of milliards) for 1021 are more common.<ref name="it_gov" /> </ref><ref name="it_gov" /><ref name="larousse-billione" />
- {{#invoke:flag||Poland}} ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}})
- {{#invoke:flag||Switzerland}} (French: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; German: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; Italian: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; Romansh: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>)
Using bothEdit
Some countries use either the short or long scales, depending on the internal language being used or the context.
| Country or territory | Short scale usage | Long scale usage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:CAN<ref group="shortscale longscale note">Canadian usage: Both scales are in use currently in Canada. English-speaking regions use the short scale exclusively, while French-speaking regions use the long scale, though the Canadian government standards website recommends that in French {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} be avoided, recommending {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} for 109, and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (a thousand milliards) for 1012.<ref>
{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}} </ref> </ref> |
Canadian English (109 = billion, 1012 = trillion) | Canadian French (109 = {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, 1012 = {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}). |
| Template:Unbulleted list | English (109 = billion, 1012 = trillion) | lang}}, 1012 = {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) | ||
| Template:Unbulleted list | South African English (109 = billion, 1012 = trillion) | Afrikaans (109 = {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, 1012 = {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) | ||
| Template:PRI | lang}}, 1012 = {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) | lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, 1012 = {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) |
Using neitherEdit
The following countries use naming systems for large numbers that are not etymologically related to the short and long scales:
| Country | Number system | Naming of large numbers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:BGD {{#invoke:flag |
India}} Template:MDV Template:NPL Template:PAK |
Indian numbering system | Traditional system for everyday use, but short or long scale may also be in use <ref group="other scale note">Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi usage: Outside of financial media, the use of billion by Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani English speakers highly depends on their educational background. Some may continue to use the traditional British long scale. In everyday life, Bangladeshis, Indians and Pakistanis largely use their own common number system, commonly referred to as the Indian numbering system – for instance, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Indian English commonly use the words lakh to denote 100 thousand, crore to denote ten million (i.e. 100 lakhs) and arab to denote thousand million.<ref>Template:Cite book
</ref> </ref> |
| Template:BTN | Dzongkha numerals | Traditional system | |
| Template:KHM | Khmer numerals | Traditional system | |
| Template:Unbulleted list | East Asian numbering system: Template:Unbulleted list | Traditional myriad system for the larger numbers; special words and symbols up to 1068 | |
| Template:GRE | Calque of the short scale | Names of the short scale have not been loaned but calqued into Greek, based on the native Greek word for million, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("hundred-myriad", i.e. 100 × 10,000):
|
CitationClass=web
}} </ref> |
| Template:LAO | Lao numerals | Traditional system | |
| Template:MNG | Mongolian numerals | Traditional myriad system for the larger numbers; special words up to 1067 | |
| Template:LKA | Template:Unbulleted list | Traditional systems | |
| Template:THA | Thai numerals | Traditional system based on millions | |
| Template:VNM | Vietnamese numerals | Traditional system(s) based on thousands |
By continentEdit
The long and short scales are both present on most continents, with usage dependent on the language used. For example:
| Continent | Short scale usage | Long scale usage |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | Arabic (Egypt, Libya), South African English | French (Benin, Guinea), Portuguese (Mozambique) |
| North America | American English, Canadian English | Canadian French, Mexican Spanish, U.S. Spanish |
| South America | Brazilian Portuguese, English (Guyana) | American Spanish, Dutch (Suriname), French (French Guiana) |
| Antarctica | Australian English, British English, New Zealand English, Russian | American Spanish (Argentina, Chile), French (France), Norwegian (Norway) |
| Asia | Hebrew (Israel), Indonesian, Philippine English | Persian (Iran), Portuguese (East Timor, Macau) |
| Europe | British English, Russian, Turkish | Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish |
| Oceania | Australian English, New Zealand English | French (French Polynesia, New Caledonia) |
Notes on current usageEdit
Short scaleEdit
Long scaleEdit
Both long and short scaleEdit
Neither long nor short scaleEdit
See alsoEdit
- Googol (number)
- Googolplex (number)
- Names of large numbers
- Names of small numbers
- Orders of magnitude (numbers)
- Hindu units of time which displays some similar issues
- Indian numbering system