0207 & 0208
OK, I mentioned this one before in the "Pet peeves" QOTW, but I found myself thinking about it again while reading this one. The reason I include it under the "common" heading is because it fits both descriptions of the word: not only do people commonly make this error, but I consider it common in the sense that it is especially rife among the lower-class, uneducated people. These are people who, it can be clearly seen, simply do not give a damn about getting things right: whether it be pronunciation, spelling, grammar, or even more obscure things like their telephone code. Let me explain.

In ancient times, London had the telephone area code: 01. Every number beginning with "01" would be a London number.
Due to increasing demand, the city was split into two areas with two codes: 071 for inner London and 081 for outer London.
A few years later, a national renumbering plan changed these codes into 0171 and 0181.
In the year 2000, London was reunited under a single code: 020. The local numbers, however, were extended from seven digits to eight - with the old "7"s and "8"s being tacked on to the beginning of the local numbers.

The correct format of London telephone numbers is (020) 1234 5678.

Unfortunately, more than eight years after this numbering format was established, the majority of commoners continue to treat the city as if it were split up into central and outer areas, by writing and speaking the code[s] as "0207" or "0208". Not only is this plainly incorrect, but it broadcasts to everyone else that they are an uneducated numpty who doesn't pay attention to the world around them.

Low and common - in both senses.
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Sat 18 Oct 2008, 19:54, 35 replies)

Yes!
If you're on Facebook, there's a group for this.
( cupboardy, Sat 18 Oct 2008, 20:11, closed)

London telephone numbers
That's really interesting, particularly to those people who don't live in London. Nor want to, btw.
( petuniadb, Sat 18 Oct 2008, 21:11, closed)

In the grand scheme of things
This really doesn't matter. For example, is it possible to dial an 0208 number without the code from the 0207 area? Either way, get over yourself.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Sat 18 Oct 2008, 21:39, closed)

No
If your number is 0207xxxxx you can dial 7xxx and 8xxx numbers without the 020.

For example, if you live in the 01623 area code, you can dial any other 01623 number without the area code.

Of course, as most people dial the full number any way, it's not too big a deal.
(terryeden, Sat 18 Oct 2008, 22:50, closed)

Hmmm...
I know about the last part of how the telephone system works, but thanks all the same.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Sun 19 Oct 2008, 12:53, closed)

I'm sorry, but it does matter.
It's a personal shibboleth.
( cupboardy, Sat 18 Oct 2008, 22:57, closed)

Grand scheme?
Yeah, of course in the "grand scheme of things" it doesn't matter. But then the vast majority of topics on b3ta QOTW don't matter in the grand scheme of things, do they? We're here to have a bit of a rant and a moan about the things that we find common and crass - and that's what I'm doing.

Also, as has been pointed out: you don't seem to get it. All numbers are simply "020". And it is indeed possible to dial local numbers within the same area. If my land line is (020) 7222 1234, and I want to dial another land line: (020) 8222 1234 - then I only have to dial the local number: 8222 1234. You don't have to dial the area code, because you're already in it.

This works the same for any area code in the UK. If you're dialling another land line from within the same area code, you don't have to dial the code first. It's just embarrassing to see all the London people who insist on dialling the full code - even when calling other London landlines - simply because they can't be bothered to take an interest in the world around them and how it works.
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 9:49, closed)

It seems to me
You have a bee in your bonnet about what is frankly one of the most pointless things in the world. Having a lack of knowledge of the telephone system (which to be honest is a very dull topic) does not make someone thick. And not knowing the difference between 0207 and 0208 is not crass.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Sun 19 Oct 2008, 12:55, closed)

It is because it highlights a dimwitted unthinking attitude
that is the root cause of most of the world's problems.
( cupboardy, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 18:02, closed)

Yep - precisely
You hit the nail on the head there.
It's not about the telephone numbering system per se: I agree that it's not a particularly exciting topic - nor is it important, in the big picture.

It's about people who are so thick that they don't bother to engage their brains. The "0207" problem is just a symptom of it, and every time I hear a moronic office worker blurting out a number like that, it grates on me because it just reminds me of how unthinking people are.
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Mon 20 Oct 2008, 8:36, closed)

All this time I've wasted...
I didn't realise that the folks who live out in the sticks get so touchy about having an 8 rather than a 7 in their phone number. Some fun (not much, though) to be had at their expense, methinks.

On the other hand, I live in London, my number begins 020 7 (if you must), and I couldn't care less about the convention. I always dial the full code and I shall continue to do so. I doubt that I would do anything useful with the second saved by omitting the area code.

Besides, I have to fill my days somehow and if wasting seconds helps (as does B3ta), rather than being a physicist who takes a very great deal of interest in the world around me and trying to figure out how it works, then so must it be.
(Dr. Scambolic, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 16:14, closed)

I'm with EuroSong
It's still the thin end of the wedge, isn't it.

Like when you see a post on an infoweb page (not necessarily b3ta, I might add!) that contains an obviously incorrect spelling, followed by '(sp?)'.

You're using a computer. Look it up. Don't just advertise your laziness by admitting that you couldn't be arsed to type a word into dictionary.com.
(5150, Sat 18 Oct 2008, 22:51, closed)

sounds like you're
just bitter cause you have an 0208 number. Fake london alert!
(little fawn, Sat 18 Oct 2008, 23:39, closed)

I hope this was a homorous ironic comment :)
Because if not, then I still have to point out to you: there's no such thing as an "0208 number". It would be an "020 number", whose local number happens to start with an 8 - as opposed to a 7 or a 3.
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 9:43, closed)

Jesus Christ...
I bet you're a laugh riot at parties
(Pavlov's Frog figures no-one really reads sigs anyway, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 22:06, closed)

i used to
have the dubious distinction of working for an absolute tosser who used to answer the phone " Yes putney 8525" . this is the correct and still current number . A small prize is on offer to the first person to correctly name the establishment.
(welgar, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 6:24, closed)

Silver Arrows?
Putney, 0208 789 8525

ps. Phone number written in above format absolutely on purpose!
(Dr. Scambolic, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 16:34, closed)

CORRECT
although nobody here should consider calling to purchase an overpriced old mercedes because , and im not joking " They are not the sort of person we want to sell too" we are just too common .Utter tosser.
(welgar, Mon 20 Oct 2008, 7:57, closed)

Woo!
You may donate my prize to the charity of your choice.

Cheers!
(Dr. Scambolic, Mon 20 Oct 2008, 20:27, closed)

Er?
As an ex-Londoner myself, I have never really cared.

However:

In the year 2000, London was reunited under a single code: 020. The local numbers, however, were extended from seven digits to eight - with the old "7"s and "8"s being tacked on to the beginning of the local numbers.

Same difference, isn't it?

Yes, you might just be able to dial '7' instead of '0207', but are you really THAT fucking lazy?
(Half of Stephen Fry's right buttock pissed on your dog on, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 17:04, closed)

Well done, you've missed the point entirely.

( cupboardy, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 18:04, closed)

Care to explain how?
And another thing: I know you think that everybody in the world is from London, but have you ever considered that sometimes you may be giving your number to someone from outside London?

Furthermore, the fact is that only idle fools actually give a damn about the innermost workings of the telephone system.
(Half of Stephen Fry's right buttock pissed on your dog on, Sun 19 Oct 2008, 21:09, closed)

tel numbers.
why, though, is it that old mother2shoes lives im the USA - and all the numbers shes had have been 10 digits, for a nation of some 300 milion - including area code; why then does a provincial town in the thames valley of 300k individuals need 11 digits? 0118 9xxxxxx?
(micky2shoes has more shoes than feet, Mon 20 Oct 2008, 11:48, closed)

Because
that numbering system encompasses the whole of the UK.

The 020 was because London has such a high population density you couldn't otherwise split it correctly or something.

Everywhere else got the "0" at the start of their area code replaced with "01" and London got "02".
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Mon 20 Oct 2008, 14:35, closed)

So in essence
You've got exactly the same system as the rest of the bloody country but have an 02 at the start as opposed to 01? Oh, and you don't like fitting in with everyone else with where the brackets go

i.e. "normal" number (e.g. Aberdeen): (01224) 666666
"weird and whacky" London number: (020) 1234 5678.
Which could also be written (02012) 345678 if you didn't inexplicably decide yourselves to be above following the rest of the nation's (common) standard.

So the way these numbers are written is a pet peeve of mine as well. Strangely enough, so is the attitude of many Londoners that it's the center of the universe AND the attitude of non-Londoners that they should ignore Londoners for the same reason.

/rant
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Mon 20 Oct 2008, 14:33, closed)

Correct!
In fact, the dialling code for inner London is 02072, wherever 'inner' may be...
(Dr. Scambolic, Mon 20 Oct 2008, 20:33, closed)

You two...
...are complete numpties.

Aberdeen may be (01224) 666666 (a 5 digit dialling code)
but Leeds is (0114) 5555555 (a 4 digit dialling code)
and London is (020) 77777777 (a 3 digit dialling code)

The dialing code is whatever number of digits you do NOT have to dial if you are in the area you are calling from.

If you are in Leeds, you don't have to dial the 0114 before another Leeds number. However in London you can only drop the 020 at the beginning - the rest you have to dial. If you have an 020 7 number (inner London), you still start a local call with a 7 (or an 8, for outer London).

This isn't about fucking around with the brackets because Londoners are poncey, it's about how the telephone system works. The bigger the city, the fewer digits it has as a dialing code, because it needs more possible numbers for all the people in the area.

If it bothers you that Londoners think that people in the rest of the country are thick, then don't give them ammunition!
(annexed, Tue 21 Oct 2008, 14:21, closed)

Numpty?
That's as maybe, but it doesn't alter the fact that you must dial 02072 from outside London in order to reach a number in 'inner' London.

As for what you must dial from within London, I struggle to care.
(Dr. Scambolic, Tue 21 Oct 2008, 15:00, closed)

You are so wrong.
Go away and read this before coming back.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_telephone_code_misconceptions
( cupboardy, Tue 21 Oct 2008, 17:53, closed)

*Rolls eyes*
Please look here.

And here.
(Dr. Scambolic, Tue 21 Oct 2008, 22:09, closed)

Yes, numpty
I'm afraid you don't seem to understand the concept of a dialling code - which was the theme of the original post after all.

Let's try moving up a level. Do you accept that the international dialling code for the UK is 0044? Yes? Splendid. Do you have to dial 0044 to call a number within the UK? No. You are in the UK, therefore it is unnecesary.

Now let us try it again. The London dialling code is 020. Do you have to dial 020 to call a number within London? No.

And finally. If you have a phone number starting 02072 (using your example) do you have to dial 02072 to call within your area? YES. The 7 and 2 are put of the phone number, not part of the dialling code. You have to start, 72xxxxxx. To hammer the point home, say you live in Leeds and your phone number starts 011457. You still have to start calls to numbers that begin with 57 with the 57 because the dial code is 0114.

Go read cupboardy's wikipedia link again. Consider the fact that a whole page exists on the subject of misconceptions means that misconceptions are quite common. Especially common for people who live outside of London. Do you live outside of London? Is it just possible that this misconception might apply to you? Answer: Yes. You're a numpty.
(annexed, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 13:48, closed)

There's no such thing as "inner" or "outer" London as far as the numbers are concerned
Numbers beginning with "8" can also be located in central London.

If my number is (020) 8123 4567 - then you have no idea where I am located: Central or Greater London. The 020 simply tells you that it is London.. full stop.
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Tue 21 Oct 2008, 20:51, closed)

Yes, there is
You CAN have an 020 7 or 020 8 number anywhere in London, however the overwhelming majority of 020 7 numbers are inner London, and 020 8 numbers outer London.

When they changed the 01 prefix to 071 and 081, the 071 numbers were for inner London, and the 081 for outer London. What your definition of inner and outer is doesn't really matter - there was a rough cutoff point (around the boundary of London transport Zones 2/3) where you went from 071 to 081. When it changed to 020 this pattern was continued.
(annexed, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 13:33, closed)

Yeah, but...
1) I'm so used to hearing it tht way that by the time I've mentally knocked the 020 off the number, I might as well have dialled it

2) Most Londoners weren't born and raised in London - when I lived in my home town I never dialled the local code but everywhere else (including outside London) I just have, as a matter of habit, whether I needed to or not

3) When you're using a mobile, (which must account for what, 50% at least of calls now?), you need the full code, so it's hardly unreasonable for people to say 020...
(SnowyTheWereRabbit the Leporid from Hell, Tue 21 Oct 2008, 23:03, closed)

Remove phone numbers completely...
...and just have cans attached to string. Or smoke signals.
(claireyfairy There's a smell in here that will outlast religion, Wed 22 Oct 2008, 14:15, closed)