Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

Yes.  Also, "four bucks" (plus the 29 cents.)

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We are a free nation and therefore we can say just about anything we want
without fear of reprisal.

Of course, we may not shout "Fire!" in a theater without cause, or slander
people.

But yes, you can say $4.29 in either of the three ways you mention. The last
expression is OK within the proper context, as, for instance, if you're telling
your customer the price of your merchandise. Otherwise, it could be interpreted
as the time of day and even the month and day of the year.

Bob G

In real life, it's perceived as stodgy to say "one hundred fourteen
dollars", and less formal to say "a hundred and fourteen dollars."

"and" in this case is a schwa-n.  Hundred'n fourteen dollars.

You'll be understood regardless.  Everywhere I've been in the US,
that is, just about everywhere, you would expect "four twenty-nine"
in most cash-transaction situations.  The only exception is the case
where "four twenty-nine" could reasonably be confused with "four hundred
twenty-nine dollars."

Proper bank usage, e.g., on checks, is "Four and 29/00 Dollars",
"One hundred fourteen and 00/XX Dollars", with numerous allowed
variations, somewhat dependent on the writer's generation and whether
the check is being written by hand or printed by machine.

James "Two Fifty" M.