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19 responses to “How should we pronounce 2011?”

1. 

   Sherry Reson

   January 11, 2011 at 9:59 am

   I imagine it depends on context. We live in a world where people abbreviate in their day to day speech, and ‘twenty eleven’ rolls quickly and easily off the tongue. In the case of a formal pronouncement, I expect to hear – and imagine I’d use – “two thousand eleven.’ Or, for that matter, “two thousand thirty two.”

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2. Pronouncing 2010

   January 11, 2011 at 10:15 am

   […] Doc Searl wonders, Is it “twenty eleven” or “two thousand eleven”? […]

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3. 

   Charlie

   January 11, 2011 at 10:38 am

   Consistency seems to indicate “twenty eleven.” We never said “one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine,” or “one thousand eight hundred sixty-five.” We said, ” nineteen ninety-nine” and “eighteen sixty-five.” and so on. People have looked at me funny ever since I started saying “twenty hundred!” 🙂

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4. 

   jason

   January 11, 2011 at 11:33 am

   you didn’t say nineteen hundred ninety-nine did you? twenty eleven!

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5. 

   Carl Welch

   January 11, 2011 at 11:47 am

   I’ve been wondering this, too. I’ve been trying to make myself say twenty-eleven, but I think I’ve recently heard news anchors (like Jim Lehrer) talk about the two-thousand-twelve elections.

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6. 

   Steven Parkes

   January 11, 2011 at 12:21 pm

   I think it’s just a natural tradeoff of conservation of syllables against ambiguity. 2000 is three syllables. 20 is two. Most single digit numerals and 10 are single syllables whereas 11 is three. Plus 20-x is ambiguous (20-06 vs 26) whereas past 2009, there is no ambiguity. The big change this year from 10 (1 syllable) to 11 (3) makes people opt for the shorter.

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7. 

   Terry Heaton

   January 11, 2011 at 12:49 pm

   I wasn’t born in one thousand nineteen hundred forty six. ‘Nuff said.

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8. 

   Terry Heaton

   January 11, 2011 at 12:50 pm

   Oops, one thousand nine hundred forty six. Geez.

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9. 

   Jan Searls

   January 11, 2011 at 3:11 pm

   There is always “aught eleven” if you’re counting syllables; I doubt anyone would confuse it with 1011.

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10. 

    Paul Price

    January 11, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    What did people say in 1911? I’m pretty sure they said nineteen-eleven. I can’t figure out why we would end up doing it any differently. It’s not like twenty has that many more syllables than nineteen.

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11. 

    Ariel

    January 11, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    Well, there’s always a third solution and I’m in favor of it.

    The “20” will be around for a century. That is plenty of time to give it the nickname “two” (by reducing “twenty” to “two”) and keep it until another century comes around.

    Therefore, “two eleven” is the new way to say “two thousand and eleven”, cutting out all redundancies, getting a fast, smooth and accurate way to name the approaching years.

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12. 

    Brett Glass

    January 11, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    It’s two-oh-double-toothpicks.

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13. 

    Paul Hughes

    January 12, 2011 at 5:29 am

    Based on my experience over the last 11 days, almost everyone I hear is saying “Twenty Eleven”. So I think the “Two Thousand” will go away, especially if, after only 11 days, most people aren’t saying it anymore.

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14. 

    Robert Rose

    January 12, 2011 at 9:33 am

    Doc,
    Trying to use twenty-eleven as much as I can…. Although I find myself slipping into the two thousand and eleven…

    And I always wonder if in thirty or forty years I’ll sound like my Grandfather did when he would tell me about “way back… back in nineteen hundred and 11 when I had my Hudson motorcar”

    Makes me wonder if they had this same discussion at some point… And when did the “kids” started saying Nineteen-eleven instead of Nineteen hundred and eleven…

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15. 

    Andy

    January 12, 2011 at 10:43 am

    Twenty eleven sounds a bit too casual for AP style, IMO. But I haven’t picked up any official notices yet. AP editors will answer a direct question about it if you purchase a membership for $25. http://www.apstylebook.com/?do=view_recent_ask

    I miss 2010 already, because my friend gave me a laugh by coining the year Two K Dime, used mostly as a suffix to some official event.
    …Desk jobs can be boring, many days.

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16. 

    Joseph Reagle

    January 12, 2011 at 10:52 am

    I find 2011 is easy on my lips.

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17. 

    Dave Täht

    January 13, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    I like what Charles Stross calls the 00s – the “Naughties”. I’m calling this year elevensies. Because I can.

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18. 

    Pixxsie

    January 15, 2011 at 7:31 am

    I think ”Twenteleven” is easiest…. 🙂 Just four syllables as opposed to seven…..

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19. 

    Ted Trove

    January 20, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    I’m still somewhere in twennyten to be honest :), but I suppose twennyleven sounds about right 🙂

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