Using "O" or "ZERO"

[Guest DFFD227]

When using your designation number, is it ok to use the letter "O"?? For example if im a member of Engine 50, is it OK to say Engine "5-O responding" or should It be "5-zero?" Is Saying "O" a lot faster then saying zero?? How about With Yonkers engines: Engine 3 Zero 4, If you ask me 3"O"4 sounds better and faster. Or with Irvington car 2201. Saying 22ZERO1 seems a lot delayed then saying "O". What does everyone else think of this?

[Remember585 815]

It was something I remember being taught in Elementary school. Like, years shouldn't be "Nineteen Oh-One" but "Nineteen Hundred and One."

Truthfully -the less we have to spit out of our mouths the better. Only exception should be for addresses or something where saying "Oh" could become confusing.

Good question!

[Guest alsfirefighter]

LOL. I'm thinking your thinking too much.

It doesn't make much difference unless your in the military, there the letter was the letter, generally said phonetically and the number 0 or "zero" which when written has a slash through it.

[doug_e 0]

My teachers used to tell us - "O is a letter, zero is a number."

Also to be gramatically correct there shouldn't be an "and" in a number. An "and" indicates addition, as in 1 and 1 = 2. So it should be nineteen hundred one. You could say, though, that nineteen hundred and one is correct in that you're adding one to 1900.

Now that's thinking too much.

[x635 4,066]

Example:

Engine One Five Zero would sound retarded!

It's Engine One Five Oh!!!!!!

[RWC130 594]

Who is that guy ONE-ONE-NINE-ONE sometimes known as

ONE-NINETEEN-ONE? 119-1

[EJS1810 7]

Engine 3Zero4 or Engine 3Oh4. Takes a milisecond longer to say zero (2 sylables) than oh (1 sylable). I agree with doug_e, Oh is a letter, Zero is a Number. What are we saving? Proper english.

EJS Eighteen One Zero

[gpdexplorer 46]

not to seem offensive or anything, "oh" is a word, "o" is a letter.

[Guest]

When it comes to addresses or a number that may be misinterperted say zero. When dealing with a truck number say "o". The less we have to correct ourselves on the fireground the better.

[COMMANDCHIEF 4]

Thanks Doug for pointing out that something so simple is so difficult.

[doug_e 0]

I guess I should stop saying - two oh five three.

Two zero five three, doesn't flow...

Twenty fifty three, will shake 'em up...

[PVFD113 6]

Actually--two hunred 5-three would shake em up. 205 3--If I am correct you are dept 205 right-

LOL

[hatr1k 6]

If its a number say the number. honestly there is too much unnessesary confusion these days.