Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[dido4]

The temperature is 20 degrees Celsius.

1.The temperature is 0 degree Celsius.
2.The temperature is 1 degree Celsius.

Q. We have to write degrees as a plural when it is over one.
But if it is one or zero degree, do we have to add s at the word
degree?

Thank you.

[dragn]

Hi Dido,

Odd as it may sound, the only time you do not add s is when you say 1 degree or -1 degree (either read as minus one degree or one degree below zero).

In other words, it's...

1 degree.
-1 degree.

But...

0 degrees.
0.7 degrees.
-0.3 degrees.
10 degrees.
-15 degrees.

..and so on.

I know it might sound or seem strange, but there it is.

In case you're wondering, we have a tendency to not use the word negative for temperatures. Not a rule, just a tendency. The word negative is preferred in an algebraic context. For example, in an algebraic equation such as -3x + 2y = -12 you will probably hear people say negative three x and negative twelve, although saying minus is really not wrong.

Hope this helps.

dragn