So, context is king; if you are in a situation where something is normally expressed as an exact number, then “half a dozen” equals 6. But if you are in a situation where the exact number doesn’t necessarily matter or may not be known, then “half a dozen” is “most likely somewhere between 4 and 8”.
Are dozens correct?
To summarize, use the word dozen after a number or an expression referring to a number, and use dozens when referring to a group with an unspecified number .
Why do we say dozen instead of 12?
Etymology. The English word dozen comes from the old form douzaine, a French word meaning “a group of twelve” (“Assemblage de choses de même nature au nombre de douze” (translation: A group of twelve things of the same nature), as defined in the eighth edition of the Dictionnaire de l’Académie française).
What are half a dozen?
: six half a dozen eggs .
How many eggs are in half a dozen?
One dozen means 12 eggs Thus one and half dozen means 1.5×12= 18 .
Why do we say dozens?
Etymology. The English word dozen comes from the old form douzaine, a French word meaning “a group of twelve” (“Assemblage de choses de même nature au nombre de douze” (translation: A group of twelve things of the same nature), as defined in the eighth edition of the Dictionnaire de l’Académie française).
Is it correct to say 2 pair or 2 pairs?
The plural of pair is pairs . You ordered both pairs of shoes from Amazon. You’ll pick up two pairs of pants at the dry cleaners. Perhaps the person who left four pairs of shoes in the garage should bring them inside where they belong.
Can we use dozen for people?
If you refer to dozens of things or people, you are emphasizing that there are very many of them . You can also use dozens as a pronoun. Just as revealing are Mr Johnson’s portraits, of which there are dozens.
What does half a dozen times meaning?
(also half a dozen); (also half-a-dozen) a set of six things or a group of six people : The company is based in the UK but also has large operations across half a dozen European countries.
Is it a half dozen or half a dozen?
a half dozen and half a dozen . For this noun phrase, either a half dozen or half a dozen is good form. Avoid a half a dozen. When the phrase is used as an adjective, it becomes a phrasal adjective that should be hyphenated: a half-dozen twirlers with the band.
Is half a dozen an idiom?
The idiom “ six of one, half a dozen of the other” means that two alternatives are equivalent or indifferent; it doesn’t matter which one we choose.
What are 12 eggs called?
It made sense to sell them that way because one egg could be sold for a penny or 12 for a shilling, which was equal to 12 pennies. ... Thus, in the United States, a vast majority of eggs are sold by the dozen , half-dozen and other multiples of 12.
What does 5 dozen mean?
60 eggs are in five dozens.
How many eggs are in 13 cartons?
A reusable, molded pulp egg carton that holds 13 eggs . For small egg producers who pack their eggs by hand. Farm stands, farmer’s markets and the like.
Why is 13 called a bakers dozen?
Baker’s dozen means 13, instead of 12. The tale behind its origin is that a mediaeval law specified the weight of bread loaves , and any baker who supplied less to a customer was in for dire punishment. So bakers would include a thirteenth loaf with each dozen just to be safe.
How much does 2 dozen equal?
| Number Quantity units names | 2 a couple / a pair / a brace | 6 half a dozen | 12 a dozen | 13 a baker’s dozen |
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