I would speak 0.25 mile as twenty-five one-hundredths of a mile. Why should I write it as 0.25 miles and not 0.25 mile if it's the hundredths that are plural are singular and miles is singular?
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Why do you think that 'miles' is singular? – KillingTime Dec 13 '22 at 13:18
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Because if in the context of 0.25 miles "miles" wouldn't refer to a single mile then the meaning would change a little bit. – Sebastian E Dec 13 '22 at 13:30
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Note that the overall expression is always treated as if it were a single entity. '[0.85 miles / 1 mile / 6 miles // zero miles // half a mile ...] is what we have enough petrol left for.' //// Using the singular- or plural-form of the base unit is up to a point a matter of style choice. This is clearly seen in 'The plank is 6 ft/foot/feet long.' – Edwin Ashworth Dec 13 '22 at 15:09