How do say telephone numbers?

I don't think there is any strict rule as to how numbers should be spelled. The human brain can store up to 7 +/- 2 digits in short term memory provided they are said at a reasonable speed.
 
My HSBC switch card 16 digit number used to be made up primarily of my sort code and account number but now that they have changed to Visa debit it is some random number and not so easy to remember of pat. Damn frustrating that's for sure.
 
no, for mobiles I go 077-77-777-777 my old mobile number years ago was 07732822820, and it kinda of ryhmed if you said it quickly. and I always stopped with the 077/32/822/820.
land lines 0131-313-3133
 
In Nottingham they added an extra number years ago so we seem to have a weird length number. A lot of people think our area code is (01159) 123 456 but its actually (0115) 912 3456 which is how I would normally say it. The 9 can be an 8 and a few other numbers now I think.
 
csmager said:
It's incorrect.
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That wasn't my point. I didn't say I was reciting the phone number block-correctly, my point was it's simpler to take down for the listener.

If you say "020 -gap -" it's pointless.

If it's a London number we KNOW it's going to start with 020. Just give the next digit anyway.
 
What annoys me is when you're giving someone a number over the phone and they interrupt you with 'yeah', 'ok' or repeat the numbers as you're giving them. STFU and confirm it at the end!
 
dmpoole said:
Now this is really stupid because a City code is 5 numbers so why would you cut it down to 4?
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If you only ever have to give out a number that has a four-digit area code, then you're going to get used to that and use it as your 'right' way.
 
City codes for lots of places are 4 digits - 0151, 0161, 0116, 0191, 0141, 0131 off the top of my head
 
In threads like this I tend to forget I have been dealing with phone numbers for the last 8 years or so at a rate of up to 150 of them a day :D I get the same with postcodes

"Postcode is DM20..."

"No it isn't"

"Yes it is, I wrote it down"

"Nope. DN maybe, but not DM..."

"How do you know this stuff?"

"Err, good memory and experience!"
 
csmager said:
No, the code is 020. They've started allocating numbers beginning with 3, some numbers used for national use beginning with 0 and 1, and when they run out again they'll start using 4, 5, 6 and so on.

If I was to pick up my phone and dial 7558 9685, it would work. 558 9685 would not, as it's 020 and not 0207 that is my local area code, so writing it as such would be incorrect.
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Yeah this is correct, the area code is the 020 and the 7/8 is just a left over from the old codes 0171 & 0181 and is just a semi-prefix if anything now, but with the addition 020(3) its not even that.

Still though just out of habit I'd id say it as 020x xxx xxxx when unless I was speaking to someone in London wanting a London number, but saying 020 xxxx xxxx doesnt sound wrong to me anyway so meh.

But aye for the others id say
01324 xxx xxx
0131 xxx xxxx (though that could switch to 0131 xxxx xxx if it sounds nicer)
07777 xxx xxx
 
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