It is also important to ensure that the patterns in the digits and the language is reinforced and not lost because of teen numbers and zeros. For teen numbers, we recommend using words that relate to tens and ones, such as “onety-seven” for 17. We also recommend that the “zero” be put back into language, at least as an option at the beginning of teaching. This would mean that, initially, the following language would be used: 20 would be “twenty-zero” or even “twoty-zero”, 350 would be “three hundred fifty-zero”, 416 would be “four hundred onety-six”, 310 would be “three hundred onety-zero”, and 804 would be “eight hundred zeroty-four”.
Note: The “and” often given between hundreds and tens, e.g. 324 is “three hundred and twenty-four”, can be confusing as it can be interpreted to mean two numbers, 300 and 24.