Richard

Slow day here, just received a postcard from German friends and noticed in our street address 1704, zip code with two 7's, no crossbar was used. Most European "1"s are drawn with a swoop up and a downward slash. Most Americans use just a downward slash. I can understand the European use of the crossbar to denote a "7" from a "1", but is it needed here?

Jane

I have a habit of putting a crossbar through the letter Z when printing. When I was a kid, (1950's). they taught us to do this and I believe it was to differentiate Z from S - somehow scientific/international notation figured into it. I don't really remember. But I still do it out of habit. I vaguely remember the number 7 having the same rule.

SharonM

Hi Richard, <BR>Actually, I think I'm about the only American I know that uses the cross bar on my 7's. I've been doing it for years and mostly, I thinks it's force of habit for me more than anything. When I lived in Mexico when I was 10-12yrs old I learned to cross my sevens and have since continued to do so. And of course, in Europe I found it vital to differentiate between 7s and 1s, as you mentioned (even though my 1s don't look like 7s) <BR>Another thing I tend to do is cross my zeros to differentiate between a zero and an "O".

SharonM

Jane, <BR>I think it is to differentiate between a 2 and a Z, actually.

Jane

Sharon - you're right. You jogged my memory.

Caitlin

I, too, cross my z and 7; not sure where that came from actually, but it's definitely force of habit now, and if I don't do it, they look naked to me and I feel a compulsion (not that others' uncrossed ones look naked to me). I agree with SharonM, though, that it's pretty rare among Americans. So yeah, I'm probably guilty of an affectation.

Brian in Atlanta

Crossing z's so they don't look like 2's was necessary when doing algebra.

***

I cross my Zs too. I somewhere picked up the habit of dating thing day/month/year, but I write out the month. I don't know where I got that one.

Holly

*** <BR> <BR>I do that, too. Got it from my grandfather.

Dave

Some do it bacuase they were taught that way. Some do it makes them feel chic, cultured, and superior. I think it is unnecessary in the US where a "one" is a slash, not like an unfinished A. <BR> <BR>Having said this, I will now put on my armor for the verbal arrows which I expect will follow.

Ed

As a beginning computer programmer nearly 40 years ago I had to cross-bar sevens, slash zeroes and put a dash in the center of ohs. I still do many of those, subconsciously, though no one has been keypunching anything from my writing for years. Old habits are hard to break. <BR> <BR>The most common of those I do is the cross-bar on the seven since I've spent a lot of time in Europe where it's useful to make your handwriting easier to read for Europeans. <BR> <BR>Old habits are hard to break. <BR> <BR>Ed

james wyatt

It is incorrect to cross either a 7 or a Z - take this message as proof!!

77777777

I cross 7's occasionally. I think I learned it from my high school French teacher, who most likely did it as an affectation. I was so excited about learning a language at the time; I planned to learn a new language every two years for the rest of my life (unfortunately that plan fell through). I think I kept it up in college, especially in language classes, but then it became a habit. I liked the "feel" of it --very old-fashioned, and made me think thoughts of faraway places and past times and intersting cultures. I used to do it more times than not; now I do it rarely. But even though I make plain 1's, I think it can't hurt to be extra clear -- a little prissy maybe, but at least it's super-clear. I try NOT to do it too often, because I do think it comes across as an affectation. (If I didn't do it myself, I'd probably be quick to assume that those who cross 7's are phoney poseurs!)

Gordon R

The use of crossbars on the number 7 has become standard across the scientific and engineering community, at least in Europe. In our line of business, we cannot afford a number to be misinterpreted when communicating with colleagues in other countries. You can usually spot a scientist or engineer in the UK by his/her use of crossed sevens. The rest of the population here wouldn't do this. <BR> <BR>

Angela

I cross my sevens , not sure where I got it from but I have always done it, never my "Z" though. My degree was in Nursing - I'm not really a scientist or engineer. No one else I know does this so it is a little strange as to why I have always done it! <BR>Angela

Dona

I also cross my 7's and z's. When I was in college and writing computer programs, we had to use them to differentiate them from 1's and s's... <BR> <BR>M

Becca

I cross my sevens and z's too. I also use a cross bar in my q's. I picked up on the seven and the z when i was an exchange student to Europe, but I don't know why I cross my q's!

Daphna

I have always crossed my 7's. I grew up in Israel, and now here in the US, I wish that it would catch on, it would solve the handwriting mystery just a bit!

harzer

I cross my eyes and dot my tees. No, just kidding. <BR> <BR>I have noticed that Europeans usually interpret our 1 as a capital letter I or even a forward slash, and so getting them to get your address right when handwriting the envelope is quite a challenge. My street number is 418, but it turns out looking like Unit 4 at No. 8, which is not helpful.

Caitlin

"It is incorrect to cross either a 7 or a Z - take this message as proof!!" <BR> <BR>Hmm--great job proving your case, there, sir. <BR>