Expert: Kurt Bamert - 5/14/2009

Question
Hello.  I appreciate your help as we are eager to undertand this issue better.  We have received information containing money amounts from Germany.  It is written 4.375,00 (Euros).  Is that the correct way to write they moeny amount (which would equal $5.00), or should it be 4,375.00 (Euros, which would equal $5,000.00 - or so I've been told)  We are just wondering which is the correct way to write the amount so we can determine which American amount is correct.  Thanks again for your help!

Answer
Hello
It equals to

4,375.00 (Euros, which would equal $5,000.00

Als Tausendertrennzeichen wird in diesen Artikeln ein Punkt (.) verwendet.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Schreibweise_von_Zahlen

Translated: To separate "thousand units" in Germany is used a point (in your country a comma). For decimals in Germany is used a comma for separation and in your country a point. So there is just an inversion of signs in your contry and in Germany for thousand units and for decimals...

This is valid for Germany and Austria, not for Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

In large numbers (i.e., in numbers greater than or equal to 10,000), commas are generally used to break the sequence every three places left of the decimal point, e.g. 8,274,527.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_(dates_and_numbers)#Large_numbers

Decimal points

   * A decimal point is used between the integer and the fractional parts of a decimal; a comma is never used in this role (6.57, not 6,57).

Instead of the decimal point in Germany is used a comma.

Greetings,
K.