Tips for Reading Phone Numbers and Long Credit Card Numbers in English

When we need to verbally read out long numbers such as phone numbers or credit card numbers, we read them out digit by digit. For example, “2622-6088” is read as “two-six-two-two-six-zero-eight-eight.”

In addition, when there are three or four identical digits, there is also an abbreviated way of reading them. For example, “0308-5555” can be read as “zero-three-zero-eight, four fives.”

However, in the English-speaking world, there is a slightly different way of reading numbers.

When reading out a long string of numbers in English, the first basic concept is to pair the digits up two by two.

For example, “2622-1020” is read in English as “two-six, two-two, one-zero, two-zero.”

The second basic concept is that when there are repeated digits, you directly add the English word dedicated to plurals as a substitute, including:

• Two consecutive digits: double
• Three consecutive digits: triple
• Four consecutive digits: quadruple?

Note here in particular: although there is a dedicated English word for quadruple (four times), in practice that word is not actually used. Instead, two “double”s are used as a substitute, which is also simpler and easier to understand in spoken communication.

Below are three examples to illustrate the usage when digits repeat, including:

• “2622-1020” is read as “two-six, double two, one-zero, two-zero.”
• “2538-8885” is read as “two-five, three-eight, triple eight and five.”
• “2538-8888” is read as “two-five, three-eight, double eight, double eight.”

In addition, when we Asians read numbers, we more or less find the pronunciation of zero a bit awkward, especially with a long string of zeros, which is practically a tongue twister.

In fact, even native English speakers are the same, so when reading numbers, they read zero as the letter “O,” simplifying the complexity and length of reading numbers.

For example, “2622-1020” is read in full as “two-six, double two, one-O, two-O.”