✨ Telegram Counting Rules
Dec. 19.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3221
17
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When a group of figures is preceded or followed by a letter, the letter is counted as a separate word: thus, A104, or 104A, each count as two words. Letters added to figures to form ordinal numbers are each counted as a figure: thus, “1st” counts as one word, “1000th” as two words.
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The two principal punctuation signs, viz., full stop and comma, when used as such, are not to be counted, but signalled free of charge. Other punctuation signs and underlines are counted and charged for as one word each; while parentheses, brackets, or inverted commas are counted and charged for as one word each pair.
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Bars of division, or full stops representing decimal points, used in the formation of numbers, or in groups of mixed characters, are counted as figures. The divisional bar when used with letters also counts as a letter in the group in which it may occur.
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All figures should be expressed in Arabic characters; if Roman numerals are required to be signalled, two extra words are charged for each group of five (or less) of such figures.
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The following examples determine the interpretation of the rules to be followed in counting words:—
| Words. | Words. |
|---|---|
| 3d .. .. .. 2 | £2 3 6 .. .. .. 4 |
| 4d .. .. .. 2 | 14s 6d .. .. .. 4 |
| 4/2 .. .. .. 1 | 5s/ .. .. .. 2 |
| 4s .. .. .. 2 | 3½d .. .. .. 2 |
| “ ” .. .. .. 1 | 3½ .. .. .. 1 |
| Come quickly .. .. 3 | 31½ .. .. .. 1 |
| Important wanted urgently 5 | 311½ .. .. .. 2 |
| ( ) .. .. .. 1 | 5/-/- .. .. .. 1 |
| 3.6 .. .. .. 2 | £5 .. .. .. 2 |
| 38.64 .. .. .. 2 | £5 10 .. .. .. 3 |
| 12.1501015/9/8–7–6/6/12/7/9.. 6 | Twenty-eight .. .. 1 |
| 38·647 .. .. .. 2 | Twenty eight .. .. 2 |
| 38647 .. .. .. 1 | Thirty-fifth .. .. 1 |
| 38647/ .. .. .. 2 | Thirty fifth .. .. 2 |
| 38/64 .. .. .. 1 | 4 11 6.. .. .. 3 |
| 38/647 .. .. .. 2 | 3/6 .. .. .. 1 |
| 30b4d .. .. .. 4 | 31½8¼9 .. .. .. 3 |
| A4BN56 .. .. .. 4 | c/o .. .. .. 1 |
| 2/3/6 .. .. .. 1 | 5/twelfths .. .. 2 |
| B/L .. .. .. 1 | EMVTHF .. .. .. 2 |
| ⁰/₀ .. .. .. 1 | TMRLS .. .. .. 1 |
| FOB or fob .. .. 1 | CH 22 (trade mark) .. 2 |
| F.O.B. .. .. .. 3 | ADVGMY ,, .. .. 2 |
| 6% .. .. .. 1 | AP .. .. .. 1 |
| AM or PM (for time) .. 1 | M .. .. .. 2 |
| P.O. signifying Post Office .. 2 | 3 .. .. .. 2 |
| PO ,, .. .. 1 | M .. .. .. 2 |
| M.P. .. .. .. 2 | C.H.F. 45 ,, .. .. 4 |
| K.C.M.G. .. .. .. 4 | 2/3rds .. .. .. 2 |
| Eight/10 .. .. .. 2 | XIII .. .. .. 3 |
| The 17th .. .. .. 2 |
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NZ Gazette 1908, No 104
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General Rules for Counting Telegrams Within New Zealand
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🚂 Transport & CommunicationsTelegrams, Rates, Word counting, Code language, Plain language, Figures, Post offices, Abbreviations