English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
NUMBERS IN GRAMMAR
We should complete this project with another ~two and half~ thousand pounds (nonstandard).
We should complete this project with another two and a half thousand pounds (standard).
He can eat ~two dozens of eggs~ in 30 minutes (nonstandard).
He can eat two dozen eggs in 30 minutes (standard). Note that the plural form of dozen is dozen after a number, or after a word or expression referring to a number, such as ‘several’ or ‘a few’ and the preposition, ‘of’ is not included:
Ten dozens of bottles ✖️
Ten dozen bottles ✔️
You can choose to buy her chocolates or ice cream; it’s ~six and half a dozen~ (nonstandard).
You can choose to buy her chocolates or ice cream; it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other (standard).
Six of one and half a dozen of the other is said when you think that neither of two choices is better than the other.
GAB
1 Comment
Thank you sir for the everyday tutorials. I would like to know which is correct between “you can’t eat your cake and have it” and “you can have your cake and eat it”