How to pronounce hyphen in model numbers in English - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: gamalot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 06:02:57 am
content: For example, Boeing 737-8

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 06:19:52 am
content: Seven three seven dash eight.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 06:33:34 am
content: Sometimes it's not pronounced, there's just a slightly longer pause. Seven-thirty-seven eight. A bit like eighty-seven five.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 06:57:23 am
content: This is the safest advice to follow, IMO:Quote from: tautech on March 18, 2019, 06:19:52 am

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 07:17:29 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on March 18, 2019, 06:57:23 amI'll refer you to the thread below. 737-800 is commonly pronounced as seven-thirty-seven eight-hundred, as are similar type and subtype combinations. The dash isn't usually pronounced. I believe that "737-8" is actually the FAA type certificate and the aircraft is called the 737 MAX 8. It's debatable whether it being an FAA type certificate makes a difference as it's a slightly more bureaucratic term.Rather confusingly the 737-800 is also referred to as the 738, with similar combinations made with other subtypes. If anything, human language tends to favour expediency over accuracy.https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/boeing-737-800.2861422/

author: hamster_nz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 07:20:57 am
content: Quote from: tautech on March 18, 2019, 06:19:52 amTo be confused with a Dash 8...https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_Dash_8(sorry, couldn't resist!)

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 07:35:56 am
content: Quote from: hamster_nz on March 18, 2019, 07:20:57 amQuite right, not to confused with a Q300 (Dash 8 ) that my daughter captains.But this thread is not about aircraft it's about the least confusing English use of "-" which is dash. Period.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 07:48:40 am
content: Quote from: tautech on March 18, 2019, 07:35:56 amNot about aircraft?Quote from: gamalot on March 18, 2019, 06:02:57 am

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 08:02:01 am
content: Quote from: tautech on March 18, 2019, 07:35:56 amNever heard it called "dash period" but I believe in Asia I've heard "hai-phon" or something similar.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 08:30:53 am
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on March 18, 2019, 07:17:29 amI have never said seven thirty-seven, it is too much of a mouthful. I say seven-three-seven, seven-six-seven, seven-four-seven, etc. The 777 is the "triple-seven".For the 747-400 I say "seven-four-seven, four hundred".I agree with the general sentiment that "-" in a type code or model number is pronounced "dash".

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 09:49:51 am
content: In most parts of America, at least where I have lived, it would be seven thirty seven dash eight. You most commonly hear the second and third digits combined, and - would be "dash". Speaking each digit individually sounds awkward most of the time.Seven Forty SevenFour Fifty FourSeven Elevenetc.

author: gamalot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 09:57:20 am
content: Thank you everyone, thank you!

author: HwAoRrDk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 03:33:19 pm
content: Specifically saying 'dash' won't help when you're talking to someone who confuses dashes with slashes, though."it's a seven three seven dash eight" ...writes '737/8'

author: boffin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 04:12:44 pm
content: Typically North Americans would say Seven Forty Seven, whereas the Brits say Seven Four Seven.Which then you have you ask yourself, why do the brits call it a  one eleven and not a one one one.But back to the original, dashor in the case of the Boeing 737-MAX8 I would either drop the word 'dash' altogether , or just write it the proper way: B38M

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 04:32:56 pm
content: Quote from: boffin on March 18, 2019, 04:12:44 pmWell for example, I call the A350 the "A-three-fifty". Most such choices are based on what sounds most natural, what most easily rolls off the tongue. "Seven Forty-Seven" is a tongue-twister in British English, and therefore very unlikely to be said.

author: Tomorokoshi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 04:39:41 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on March 18, 2019, 07:35:56 amIt's relevant from the point of view that multiple meanings apply to the same word, additionally, English has a fair number of homonyms.For instance, "dash" could be understood to have multiple meanings:1. A separator, as brought up in this original question. Is it a dash, or a hyphen? Specifically, a hyphen combines two elements into the same concept, while a dash tends to separate two elements into distinct, albeit connected concepts.2. A synonym for speed, as in "100 yard dash", which can be clarified by using a hyphen as "100-yard dash". Not to be confused with "100 yard-dash" which has some other meaning.3. A synonym for cancelling or being damaged, as in "the ship was dashed upon the rocks...".There are many more subtle meanings as well. In one were aware of only one or two, then legitimate usage in English could clearly be confusing. For instance, in spoken conversation "Dash 8" could be subsequently written down as "-8", implying that a more general specifier was missing from the conversation... Ellipses...

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 05:31:13 pm
content: Quote from: Tomorokoshi on March 18, 2019, 04:39:41 pmIt's even more specific than that. There are three common dashes in typography, each with well-defined uses: hyphen (-), en dash (–) or em dash (—).https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/hyphen-and-dashes.html

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 06:23:59 pm
content: XKCD:https://xkcd.com/37/

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 10:06:19 pm
content: This is no help to the OP, but in general I think the rule is like proper names. You say it the way the owner of the name wants it. Which requires asking someone who credibly knows, preferably the actual owner of the name. This rule applies to most of the discussion above about an aircraft that is commonly spoken of by its type number and to a number of other situations.When the dash is just part of a part number, serial number or something like that it gets pronounced dash in every cases I have heard.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2019, 10:43:50 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on March 18, 2019, 05:31:13 pmI learned that there are at least four, although they are often collapsed in typefaces that do not have separate glyphs.A hyphen (-) is for port-manteau words, and for words broken at a syl-lable at the end of a line of text.A figure dash (‒) is for separating groups of digits in a phone number or other sequence. 1‒202‒456‒1414, or 747‒400. This is the one that is most commonly substituted with a hyphen because it's hard to type.An en dash (–) is for a range. The notes on a piano are from A0–C8. The bank is open from 9–5. This is also often substituted with a hyphen.An em dash (—) is for appositive or indirect remarks—like a gloss of a quoted phrase—and usually used in pairs. It can also serve to mark speech—as inUlysses—although this may be seen as eccentric.—That's a fine old custom, he said. I'm glad to see it has not died out.There are other specialized dashes used in mathematics, but those are not needed in mainstream books.By the way, the "en dash" is so-called because it is meant to be the same width as a lower-case n. The "em dash" is meant to be the same width as a lower-case m.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2019, 12:48:30 am
content: And indeed there is a minus sign. Writing +12 V and −12 V looks much better with a minus instead of a hyphen.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2019, 02:36:13 am
content: I think we are overlooking the most important: What does the manufacturer calls it?The manufacturer, being the creator of that item, gets to name it.For 737-800,ifBoeing calls it Seventy-three Seven-dash-eight-double-O, then we should give them the respect and call it as such. They didn't call it that. That was my example.Whatever Boeing calls 737-800 in their public advertisements, announcements, etc., that is the one we should use.Edit- clicked Save too soon initially, so edited to finish properly writing this.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2019, 02:41:05 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on March 19, 2019, 02:36:13 amThat's one approach and a fair one. Another approach would be to see the common lingo of the professionals in the field or the de facto standard.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2019, 03:17:10 am
content: Boeing is a huge company. I don't know whether they have an official policy on how to pronounce it, but they have thousands of employees all over the world with different speech habits. I'm sure that they use all different ways.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2019, 10:01:59 am
content: I call it the Boeing seven three seven minus eight. (Or seven two nine, same thing.)