 Abbreviation for Number. |
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 Jun 17 2010, 11:38 PM
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#1
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Member  Group: Members Posts: 23 Joined: 20-January 10 Member No.: 652  |
On the Letters page of the NWN this week, a Mr Andrews asks how long has the musical # sharp sign been used as an abbreviation for number, and adds it’s presumably an Americanism which we must reluctantly accept.
Well, the # sign has been used as an abbreviation for number in both the US and Canada for at least 50 years that I know of. The abbreviation No. for number comes from Numero, presumably a foreign import Mr Andrews is happy to accept, not coming from North America ? I would have thought he would also ask, what is the musical # sign doing on my telephone keypad? |
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Jun 18 2010, 08:06 AM
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#2
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 131 Joined: 5-June 09 Member No.: 133 |
It's called a Hash sign. That's all I know.
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Jun 18 2010, 10:43 AM
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#3
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 1,251 Joined: 15-May 09 Member No.: 61 |
# also known in North America as 'pound'
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Jun 18 2010, 11:08 AM
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#4
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 318 Joined: 13-May 09 From: Newbury Member No.: 26 |
Origin
Touch-tone telephone keypads were originally planned to have buttons for Police and Fire Departments, but they were replaced with * and # when the project was cancelled in favor of developing the 911 system. Number Sign Additionally, it's different to the musical sharp sign... Sharp --------------------  |
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Jun 18 2010, 10:39 PM
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#5
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,933 Joined: 14-May 09 From: Newbury Member No.: 55 |
I've always used it, I'm 31, but didn't read or write for the first few years of my life!
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Jun 20 2010, 10:11 PM
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#6
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 7,847 Joined: 23-May 09 From: Newbury Member No.: 98 |
Gosh - what an admission! You are human after all!!!!
-------------------- Know your place!
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