Comments on: The Best Format for Phone Numbers (206) 555-1212 http://www.goldmandesign.com/blog/tips/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212 Website Design and App Design Services Thu, 16 Jun 2011 07:41:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Peggy Higginson http://www.goldmandesign.com/blog/tips/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212#comment-378 Peggy Higginson Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:40:54 +0000 http://goldmandesign.com/blog/2007/08/21/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212/#comment-378 I also hazard a guess that some people "software" is incapable of handling hyphens (huge error on software developers part!!) so they have no choice but to use dots or nothing at all!! I also hazard a guess that some people “software” is incapable of handling hyphens (huge error on software developers part!!) so they have no choice but to use dots or nothing at all!!

]]> By: Peggy Higginson http://www.goldmandesign.com/blog/tips/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212#comment-377 Peggy Higginson Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:39:16 +0000 http://goldmandesign.com/blog/2007/08/21/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212/#comment-377 many years ago the phone company (Bell?) did research that proved that people couldn't remember more than 3 digits at a time. The longer the number the less chance of being able to repeat it. It drives me crazy when people don't put in the hyphens - their contact info becomes unreadable and I'm sure it has cost many companies potential orders. The easier you are to reach the more likey someone is to call you!! The dots just aren't "visible" enough to separate the numbers in someone's mind and therefore make it easier to remember. Try it yourself!! It really is true!! many years ago the phone company (Bell?) did research that proved that people couldn’t remember more than 3 digits at a time. The longer the number the less chance of being able to repeat it. It drives me crazy when people don’t put in the hyphens – their contact info becomes unreadable and I’m sure it has cost many companies potential orders. The easier you are to reach the more likey someone is to call you!!
The dots just aren’t “visible” enough to separate the numbers in someone’s mind and therefore make it easier to remember. Try it yourself!! It really is true!!

]]> By: PI http://www.goldmandesign.com/blog/tips/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212#comment-329 PI Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:05:36 +0000 http://goldmandesign.com/blog/2007/08/21/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212/#comment-329 I do feel pretty passionate about the use of dots in my phone formatting (as well as in time and date)*. Probably as much as I do using the European method of presenting dates (07.08.27 not 08.27.07) and having the toilet paper roll being put on properly. To me the use of dots adheres to the minimalist approach of getting the information to someone without visual clutter. The dot creates a negative spacing between the clustered numbers and the numbers themselves help in the pairing and easy memorization of a phone number as they clearly present themselves without any other graphic distractions. With the parentheses method, a person with poor writing skills (aka most doctors), can draw a () that can easily be mistaken for a 1, 2, 4, 7, maybe 9, C, I, L...you get the point. The dot on the otherhand, is an element that is down below, out of the way and can not be mistaken for a number or anything else. I agree that the parentheses have an somewhat beautiful look, but it is distracting from what I need to know and retain. I find the numbers themslves much sexier than having to add an elegant element to compete/distract. And isn't the - a harsh looking element. In todays world of homogization and globalization, is knowing someones locality such great importance? Not really when conducting business, but when wanting to get together with friends who move to Arizona, yes!! *this posting would not have been made possible without the use of parentheses. I do feel pretty passionate about the use of dots in my phone formatting (as well as in time and date)*. Probably as much as I do using the European method of presenting dates (07.08.27 not 08.27.07) and having the toilet paper roll being put on properly.

To me the use of dots adheres to the minimalist approach of getting the information to someone without visual clutter. The dot creates a negative spacing between the clustered numbers and the numbers themselves help in the pairing and easy memorization of a phone number as they clearly present themselves without any other graphic distractions.

With the parentheses method, a person with poor writing skills (aka most doctors), can draw a () that can easily be mistaken for a 1, 2, 4, 7, maybe 9, C, I, L…you get the point. The dot on the otherhand, is an element that is down below, out of the way and can not be mistaken for a number or anything else.

I agree that the parentheses have an somewhat beautiful look, but it is distracting from what I need to know and retain. I find the numbers themslves much sexier than having to add an elegant element to compete/distract. And isn’t the – a harsh looking element.

In todays world of homogization and globalization, is knowing someones locality such great importance? Not really when conducting business, but when wanting to get together with friends who move to Arizona, yes!!

*this posting would not have been made possible without the use of parentheses.

]]> By: Kevin Goldman http://www.goldmandesign.com/blog/tips/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212#comment-173 Kevin Goldman Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:21:44 +0000 http://goldmandesign.com/blog/2007/08/21/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212/#comment-173 Gayla, There is no <a href="http://microformats.org/">formal microformat specification</a> for telephone numbers at this date. For extensions, I feel that this format below is the most readable and economical: (206) 850-9798 ext 201 Gayla,

There is no formal microformat specification for telephone numbers at this date. For extensions, I feel that this format below is the most readable and economical:

(206) 850-9798 ext 201

]]> By: Gayla Herrington http://www.goldmandesign.com/blog/tips/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212#comment-172 Gayla Herrington Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:31:45 +0000 http://goldmandesign.com/blog/2007/08/21/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212/#comment-172 I need to know the correct format for writing this? (325) 677-1444, ext 8074 Is there supposed to be a comma in this or not? Gayla I need to know the correct format for writing this?

(325) 677-1444, ext 8074

Is there supposed to be a comma in this or not?
Gayla

]]> By: Kevin Goldman http://www.goldmandesign.com/blog/tips/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212#comment-171 Kevin Goldman Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:05:57 +0000 http://goldmandesign.com/blog/2007/08/21/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212/#comment-171 How, Great comments. I'm glad to get the conversation started here. I'd love to hear from others, particularly around the pure aesthetic appreciation of the different formats. My heart and mind still lies with (206) 850-9798 : ) - Kevin How,

Great comments. I’m glad to get the conversation started here. I’d love to hear from others, particularly around the pure aesthetic appreciation of the different formats. My heart and mind still lies with (206) 850-9798 : )

- Kevin

]]> By: how http://www.goldmandesign.com/blog/tips/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212#comment-170 how Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:09:59 +0000 http://goldmandesign.com/blog/2007/08/21/the-best-format-for-phone-numbers-206-555-1212/#comment-170 I do feel pretty passionate about the use of dots in my phone formatting (as well as in time and date)*. Probably as much as I do using the European method of presenting dates (07.08.27 not 08.27.07) and having the toilet paper roll being put on properly. To me the use of dots adheres to the minimalist approach of getting the information to someone without visual clutter. The dot creates a negative spacing between the clustered numbers and the numbers themselves help in the pairing and easy memorization of a phone number as they clearly present themselves without any other graphic distractions. With the parentheses method, a person with poor writing skills (aka most doctors), can draw a () that can easily be mistaken for a 1, 2, 4, 7, maybe 9, C, I, L...you get the point. The dot on the otherhand, is an element that is down below, out of the way and can not be mistaken for a number or anything else. I agree that the parentheses have an somewhat beautiful look, but it is distracting from what I need to know and retain. I find the numbers themslves much sexier than having to add an elegant element to compete/distract. And isn't the - a harsh looking element. In todays world of homogization and globalization, is knowing someones locality such great importance? Not really when conducting business, but when wanting to get together with friends who move to Arizona, yes!! *this posting would not have been made possible without the use of parentheses. I do feel pretty passionate about the use of dots in my phone formatting (as well as in time and date)*. Probably as much as I do using the European method of presenting dates (07.08.27 not 08.27.07) and having the toilet paper roll being put on properly.

To me the use of dots adheres to the minimalist approach of getting the information to someone without visual clutter. The dot creates a negative spacing between the clustered numbers and the numbers themselves help in the pairing and easy memorization of a phone number as they clearly present themselves without any other graphic distractions.

With the parentheses method, a person with poor writing skills (aka most doctors), can draw a () that can easily be mistaken for a 1, 2, 4, 7, maybe 9, C, I, L…you get the point. The dot on the otherhand, is an element that is down below, out of the way and can not be mistaken for a number or anything else.

I agree that the parentheses have an somewhat beautiful look, but it is distracting from what I need to know and retain. I find the numbers themslves much sexier than having to add an elegant element to compete/distract. And isn’t the – a harsh looking element.

In todays world of homogization and globalization, is knowing someones locality such great importance? Not really when conducting business, but when wanting to get together with friends who move to Arizona, yes!!

*this posting would not have been made possible without the use of parentheses.

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