Page 172 - Basic English Usage

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14 Spoken calculations
Common ways of calculating are:
2+2=4 two and two is/are four (informal)
two plus two equals four (forma!)
7-4=3 four from seven is three (informal)
seven minus four equals three (formal)
3x4= 12 three fours are twelve (informal)
three multiplied by four equals twelve (formal)
9+3=3 nine divided by three equals three
For ways of saying and writing dates, see 95.

228 once

When once has the indefinite meaning ‘at some time’, we use it to talk
about the past, but not the future. Compare:
| met her once in Venezuela.
Once upon a time there were three baby rabbits .. .
Come up and see me some time. (NOT ... enee-)
We must have a drink together one day. (NOT ... enee-)

229 one and you: indefinite personal pronouns
We can use one or you to talk about people in general.
You can't learn a language in six weeks.
One can't learn a language in six weeks.
One is more formal.

One and you mean ‘anybody (including the speaker)’. They are only
used to talk about people in general. We do not say you or one when we
are talking about one person, or a group which could not include the
speaker. Compare:
One usually knocks at a door before going into somebody's rows
Somebody’s knocking at the door. (NOT Oneis-kneeking .
One can usually find people who speak English in Sweden.
English is spoken in this shop. (NOT One-speaks-Engtish- The
meaning is not ‘people in general’.)
One has to believe in something.
In the sixteenth century people believed in witches. ‘
(NOT ... onebeteved ... The group could not include the speaker.)
3 One can be a subject or object; there is a possessive one’s, anda
reflexive pronoun oneseff.
He talks to one like ateacher. One’s family can be very difficult.
One should always give oneself plenty of time to pack.