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quinze

English translation: 15

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:quinze
English translation:15
Entered by: Jorge Rodrigues

22:15 Nov 27, 2011
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Printing & Publishing / Book on sea turtle conservation
Portuguese term or phrase: quinze
Hi everyone,

I am editing an English translation of a series of paragraphs and captions to accompany photos in a book on sea turtle conservation. My query is that in the original text, the author sometimes uses numbers (7) and sometimes writes the numbers (sete), seemingly without following any rhyme or reason. I know that it is perferable in English to write numbers unless they are long, but in this case should I maintain what's written in the text in each instance? I imagine it's more correct to write out the numbers in Portuguese too. The translator has copied the format of the original in each case. There are some examples below of cases in the text where you can see the variation between the numerals and the numbers written out. My question is whether I should leave '15' as '15' or write 'fifteen'.

"Existem sete espécies de tartarugas marinhas no mundo. Destas, cinco são encontradas em todos os oceanos do mundo, incluindo a costa do Brasil"

"As fêmeas desovam a cada dois anos, embora haja registros com intervalos entre três e quatro anos. Cada uma faz de três a cinco posturas por temporada, com intervalos médios de 15 dias, e coloca cerca de 140 ovos por ninho."

"É uma raridade poder observar a desova de uma tartaruga gigante (Dermochelys coriácea) nas areias grossas das praias próximas à foz do rio Doce. Anualmente, apenas 5 a 15 fêmeas desovam no litoral norte do Espírito Santo, a única de concentração reprodutiva regular dessa espécie no Brasil."

I was not sure how to classify this question, apologies if it would be better off on the forum. The translation is to US English. Thanks for your help!
Lindsay Spratt
France
Local time: 14:12
15
Explanation:
Numbers from one to ten in Portuguese should be written in words. Numbers as of 11 should be written in figures. This is the generic rule in Brazilian Portuguese. Hope this helps.
Selected response from:

Jorge Rodrigues
Brazil
Local time: 09:12
Grading comment
Thanks, Jorge!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +715
Joao Marcelo Trovao
5 +615
Jorge Rodrigues


  

Answers


15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +6
15


Explanation:
Numbers from one to ten in Portuguese should be written in words. Numbers as of 11 should be written in figures. This is the generic rule in Brazilian Portuguese. Hope this helps.

Jorge Rodrigues
Brazil
Local time: 09:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thanks, Jorge!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Silvia Aquino
37 mins
  -> Obrigado, Silvia.
agree  airmailrpl: -
4 hrs
  -> Obrigado, airmailrpl: -
agree  Claudio Mazotti
10 hrs
  -> Obrigado, Claudio.
agree  Georgia Morg (X): this is the rule in (British) English too, at least that's what we teach
10 hrs
  -> Thanks, Georgia. Good to know that. :-)
agree  Daniel Tavares
14 hrs
  -> Obrigado, Daniel.
agree  Ana Crespo
2 days 8 hrs
  -> Obrigado, Ana.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +7
15


Explanation:
There are basically two rules people use to follow:
1 - Numbers from 1 to 10 are written and as of 11, you use numbers; (that's what the author does in Portuguese)
2 - Numbers which you write with just one word (fifteen, twenty, ninety) are written.
You choose which one to apply, and keep consistent.
Note: when comparing two numbers, never mix words and numbers. See the example above: Anualmente, apenas 5 a 15 fêmeas desovam...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2011-11-27 22:36:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Please pick Jorge's answer. It was posted earlier than mine.

Joao Marcelo Trovao
Brazil
Local time: 09:12
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jorge Rodrigues: Thanks, João Marcelo. I was faster, but your explanation is more complete. :-)
18 mins
  -> No worries. If I had seen your answer, I'd have agreed and placed my explanation under it.
agree  Silvia Aquino
34 mins
  -> Thanks :)
agree  Airton J Souza
2 hrs
agree  airmailrpl: -
4 hrs
agree  Daniel Tavares
14 hrs
agree  connie leite
16 hrs
agree  dorisarraia: Agree
1 day 15 hrs
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