Why do we say "two-thousand-eight" instead of "twenty-oh-eight" for the year 2008?

Question

In 1908 didn't they say "nineteen-oh-eight" instead of "one-thousand-nine-hundred-eight"

Do you think at any point they will start saying "twenty___" instead of "two-thousand_____"

Answer 1

If you want to use correct English we say "two thousand AND eight"

Answer 2

Wow, just thought about that yesterday...

Suppose it's shorter....

Answer 3

Where have you been so far, we DID say

"nineteen-o-eight (1908)",.........nineteen forty-two (1942), nineteen seventy four (1974),....etc, etc. Let me make clear something that is obvious you don't know, there is "spoken" language and

"formal" language.  In the everyday life under not-so-formal circumstances, it's allowed to use "relaxed" rules of language.  Once we are under "formal" circumstances and/or using "written" language, we must use the correct form.

Tomorrow is another day, relax and live........

Answer 4

WE don't, we say two thousand AND eight.

Answer 5

I say twenty-oh-eight now.  I said the whole two thousand and thing for a while and then thought about it and decided to quit.  In the early years of the century it was kind of cool to be able to say 'we're living in The Year Two Thousand' and the habit stuck.

Answer 6

Its both...Some people say one, some people say the other