21,31,41,51,61,71 - tous avec un trait d'union?

Elizabeth C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

21,31,41,51,61,71 - tous avec un trait d'union?

I've noticed that 71 above has no hyphens: soixante et onze. So is it just the numbers 21,31,41,51,61 that do have hyphens? Or does 71 have hyphens just when there are higher numbers, e.g. 171?

Merci d'avance!

Asked 2 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

In 1990 the Académie Française reformed the spelling of numbers below 100: all parts of a multi-part number are connected by hyphens. This, however, is only a recommendation which is why there sometimes is a heated debate over how to spell certain numbers.

I always connect them with hyphens, particularly since this removes ambiguities such as:

soixante et un tiers (60 + one third)
soixante-et-un tiers (61 thirds)

Elizabeth C. asked:

21,31,41,51,61,71 - tous avec un trait d'union?

I've noticed that 71 above has no hyphens: soixante et onze. So is it just the numbers 21,31,41,51,61 that do have hyphens? Or does 71 have hyphens just when there are higher numbers, e.g. 171?

Merci d'avance!

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