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Apostrophe in numerical data

English translation: thousand

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Apostrophe in numerical data
English translation:thousand
Entered by: Jack Becconsall

09:29 Sep 7, 2006
German to English translations [PRO]
Science - Mathematics & Statistics / Numerical notation
German term or phrase: Apostrophe in numerical data
This is a use of an apostrophe in a German text that I haven't seen before. Example: 78'015. Is the apostrophe equivalent to a decimal point, to a comma (as often used in English to separate groups of 3 digits in a large number), to a space, or to something specific to the technical context? Decimal point seems unlikely, as the German equivalent would be a comma, not an apostrophe. Here the data are apparently bacteria counts per ml, but I do not know the special field well enough to make a confident guess at the meaning.
Jack Becconsall
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:18
thousand
Explanation:
;-
Selected response from:

Stephen Sadie
Germany
Local time: 07:18
Grading comment
Many thanks Stephen, and to Steffen, Kenneth and Frosty for peer comments. I believe I'm supposed to wait 24 hours, but your answer and the comments definitely clinches it. The job is indeed from Switzerland, which I didn't mention in my question. Saves me from possibly making an ass of myself.
Jack
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +3thousand
Stephen Sadie


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
thousand


Explanation:
;-

Stephen Sadie
Germany
Local time: 07:18
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Many thanks Stephen, and to Steffen, Kenneth and Frosty for peer comments. I believe I'm supposed to wait 24 hours, but your answer and the comments definitely clinches it. The job is indeed from Switzerland, which I didn't mention in my question. Saves me from possibly making an ass of myself.
Jack

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Steffen Walter: Yes, seventy-eight thousand ... The apostrophe is primarily Swiss usage.
4 mins
  -> thanks, naturally my answer only referred to the apostrophe!
agree  Ken Cox: standard Swiss usage
27 mins
  -> thanks kenneth
agree  Frosty
43 mins
  -> thanks frosty
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