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  1. 0.9 meters
  2. 1.0 meters
  3. 1.1 meters

I thought if we want to use the plural, the number of the noun should be 2 or more than 2.

So Why should*"0.9 meters" and "1.0 meters"* use "meters " not "meter"?

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You use the plural when the number is not 1, and not a fraction with numerator 1. So you say "one quarter meter" and "0.25 meters".

For fractions with larger numerators, you would generally say "two thirds of a meter". You should do the same thing for fractions with numerator 1 which aren't common: "one seventeenth of a meter". (What does "common" mean? Certainly 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/10, and probably a few more. You can use the "of a" form for common fractions as well.)

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  • What about "1.0 meaters"? I thought 1.0 is equal to 1, so it should be “1.0 meter”.
    – user48070
    Nov 8, 2013 at 2:21
  • Both "two thirds meters" and "two thirds meter" sound very wrong to me. I agree with your suggested two thirds of a meter, and you're correct about using the singular when the number is 1, but... I can't get behind two thirds meter(s).
    – WendiKidd
    Nov 8, 2013 at 3:24
  • I think both "1.0 meters" and "1.0 meter" work.
    – Peter Shor
    Nov 8, 2013 at 8:45
  • Should we use plural or singular for a fraction of a mile? 1.0 may not exactly be one.
    – 243
    Dec 2, 2013 at 4:05
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    I would definitely prefer "a quarter of a meter" over "a quarter meter" and any other of your 'common fractions'; about the only time I wouldn't say "of a" is for half, and then I'd say "half a meter".
    – Hellion
    Dec 22, 2013 at 1:29

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