How to Say 2010: Twenty Ten or Two Thousand Ten?

Well, it's a new year! Time for new goals, renewed hope, and getting used to the way we write the date! And how the heck should we say 2010, this start of a brand new decade?

2010: What Sounds Best? Why?

Already, friends, family and the media have chosen the way they will say 2010. Most of us haven't really given that a thought. It just comes out of our mouth the way it feels right. But have you noticed that it's not always the same? Some are saying "twenty ten" and others "two thousand ten". Why the difference? Twenty ten is easy to say and the most syllable efficient. Two thousand ten has an extra syllable and sounds more formal.

No one would have even thought about saying 2009 more than one way. Even though we had other choices such as "twenty nine" or "twenty oh nine", either choice would have been confusing. 20-09 might sound like 29. There was only one choice last year and that was "two thousand nine". Okay, you get the idea. This decade, we have a choice every year!

Many of us might use both options this year. When we add the month and day, the more casual "twenty ten" sounds strange. Do you image yourself saying "February twentieth, twenty ten", or "February twentieth two thousand ten"? There's something about a date that calls out for the full, formal linguistic choice.

The 1900's

What were our choices in the 1900's?

1901 - I'm sure everyone said "nineteen oh one". Who would have wanted to say "one thousand nine hundred and one"? or "nineteen zero one"? "Nineteen hundred one" sounds just as weird.

1910 - The unanimous choice was "nineteen ten". Can you even imagine any other way to say it?

Last century was easy. It just made sense to say "nineteen" and then the year.

The 2000's

The turn of a century is the hardest date change for everyone to get used to. In addition to becoming accustomed to writing the date to begin with a "2" instead of a "1", in 2000 we had to get used to saying the date differently and creating a comfortable rhythm in our speech pattern when saying it. However, throughout this new century, each decade gives us options that are almost equally pleasing to our ears, so we will probably hear the date expressed differently, at different times, by the same people.

2000's - this decade just bode well for "two thousand whatever". "Two thousand one". "Two thousand nine". All those zeros dictated what sounded best and was less confusing. We were stuck with four syllables for a decade and no one even thought saying the year differently.

2010's - Our current decade gives us choices, however, and allows allows our tongue to take a rest by that one syllable on certain years. During 2010 and 2012 we can take advantage of a three syllable year that doesn't afford itself very often! The rest of the years become more cumbersome. Will you say "twenty seventeen" or "two thousand seventeen"? The second choice seems like a mouthful!

2020 through 2090 - Again, every year we will have choices. Will "twenty-twenty" win out over "two thousand twenty"? I'm betting it will. There's just something pleasing about that repetitive sound, isn't there? For me the idea of saying "two thousand thirty five" or two thousand seventy seven" would be so much more cumbersome than using "twenty" before the year instead!

I guess the way we say 2010 is a personal choice and undoubtedly we will hear it both ways. I'm running a tally for a while to see which choice wins out this month, and I think it will be interesting to review the results. So far, both options are running neck and neck! How do you think 2010 will go down in the linguists' history books? What will you say? Make a mental note each time you say 2010!