"and" in numerical expressions

[David Bowie]

From:    Herb Stahlke <hfwstahlke at GMAIL.COM>

<snip>

> I do find that when counting objects, like railway cars, I tend to use
> the "and" variant and when simply counting, as, perhaps, a way of
> measuring time, I use the variant without "and."  I have no idea why.
> I wasn't overtly taught that distinction.  I think I tend to have a
> falling intonation one "a hundred and one" and a phrase intonation on
> "one hundred one."  Does anyone say "a hundred one"?  That one sounds
> strange to me.

I haven't seen the whole thread, so apologies if this is already covered
upthread, but if i'm counting i say this (...ninety-nine, one hundred,
one hundred one, one hundred two...)

If i'm giving the number of objects, it's consistently "a hundred and
one", and the article is obligatory and can't be replaced with "one"
unless i'm drawing a contrast (say, between 101 and 201).

--
David Bowie                               University of Central Florida
     Jeanne's Two Laws of Chocolate: If there is no chocolate in the
     house, there is too little; some must be purchased. If there is
     chocolate in the house, there is too much; it must be consumed.

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