• ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    Can we talk about how Americans know the word “quarter” but constantly say “one fourth” like they are children relaying wheat yields in the 1700s

        • thedeadwalking4242@lemmy.world
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          5 days ago

          My point being is there is precedent, and it doesn’t make you stupid for not

          You can also calls six “half a dozen”

          I mean if anything

          1/3 1/5 1/6 1/7 1/8 1/9 etc

          There’s more situations where you express it like one fourth.

          There’s way more valid things to harp on Americans about

          • Simon_Shitewood@lemmy.ml
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            4 days ago

            None of 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, or 1/5 actually follow the precedent - it’s not threeth and fiveth - half and quarter are just the clearest. If anything, it’s sixth and upwards (downwards?) that don’t follow the precedent set by the start of the series.

    • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
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      5 days ago

      You forget, “quarter” also is the name of a coin here.

      (And quarter is also housing for redcoats in our homes (which we refuse) and mercy in combat, and a vaguely one-fourth chunk of human when ripped apart by horses bolting in the primary directions.)

      • ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        Apart from the coin that’s the same everywhere. And it’s because it’s “one fourth” of a dollar, which I mean, I’m not confused, who would be confused by that