Regional quantities

English slang quantities, and what they actually mean

English slang quantities like a baker’s dozen, a score or a fortnight carry precise meanings that are rarely written down. Real quantities that English speakers in different countries say differently - not general slang, just the numbers underneath a colloquial word. Each one checked against multiple independent sources, not a guess.

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Common questions

What is a baker’s dozen?

Thirteen. The extra loaf dates from medieval bakers adding one to avoid penalties for selling underweight bread.

How many is a score?

Twenty. It survives mainly in older texts and phrases such as "four score and seven years ago", which means 87.