"one Pence"

[boxtops]

I've just read sandys article again, and I'm having a Grrr moment. http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1344996.html#postananswer

Why do people persist in saying "one pence", not "one penny"? It was never like this in my youth, in the Old Money. It all started when "new pence" came in in 1971......

One penny
Two pence

Purleeeese....

[ludwig]

It's neither - it's 1p

[Frank97]

I know this is wrong, but to me penny is old money pence is new money, OK not that new, that's why I say it like that.
I think!

[Ric.ror]

Frank - I am guessing we are the same age as I was just thinking that

[Hopkirk]

Boxy is right

http://static2.bigstockphoto.com/thumbs/3/2/2/large2/2230171.jpg

[Mamyalynne]

It may not appease your annoyance but somewhere in my memory bank is recollection of Government handouts at the time of decimalisation - to distinguish between old and new the 'P' was born.


I worked in a shop and we had to have mini training sessions , we always ended up giggling and even after trying to explain to the customers they used to offer open purses and announce 'Oh take whatever it is!' in the end.

[ludwig]

I bet things were always called by their correct name in the days of thruppny bits, bobs and tanners.

[Mamyalynne]

My reply refers to the terminology we were asked to use.

[RATTER15]

and "three pence" was always thrupence or drupence or a "thrupenny bit" for a 3 pence coin, where I come from. Sixpence was a "Tanner" "2 shillings and sixpence" coin was a Half a crown. and a shilling was a "Bob" and a quarter of a penny was a "Farthing" and you could buy a black jack for a farthing.

[RATTER15]

and you could buy 6 penneth of chips for sixpence or a tanner!

[stuey]

And a pound had 240 pences.

[Mamyalynne]

A groat was fourpence.

[jno]

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/pence

[Graham-W]

Things were cheaper round here. You could buy six penneth of chips for thruppence.

[gingejbee]

agree wholeheartedly, boxy....pence is plural, so it can't be one pence.
And, don't get me started on those who say "pee".

[stuey]

"A pence for your thoughts" doesn't quite sound right.

[stuey]

Or even "A pee for your thoughts.".

[Graham-W]

Niether does, " A pee for your thoughts".

[Graham-W]

Must type quicker.

[anneasquith]

what have we to say. penny/pence ? :)

[jno]

language doesn't always work the way you think it would. Once upon a time cherrys was singular (as it still is in French) and so was peas, as in pease pudding hot. Eventually people invented the words cherry and pea.