Number vs. Letter — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 25, 2024
A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure, and label, while a letter is a character that represents one or more sounds in a language's alphabet.
Difference Between Number and Letter
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Numbers are used in mathematics to express quantities, perform calculations, and understand relationships between entities. On the other hand, letters are fundamental components of alphabets used in forming words and sentences in written language.
A number can be simple, like '2', or complex, such as '3.14159', and can consist of multiple digits and symbols to express different mathematical concepts. Whereas, a letter is typically a single grapheme in an alphabet, such as 'A' or 'b', used to phonetically represent sounds.
Numbers are universal in nature, used globally in their mathematical context regardless of the language spoken. Letters, however, vary widely across different languages and writing systems, each set unique to its language and serving as a building block for that language's words.
In terms of function, numbers are essential for counting, measuring, performing mathematical operations, and even in advanced applications like coding and encrypting. Conversely, letters are primarily used for constructing words, thus enabling communication, writing, and literacy.
Both numbers and letters are taught from an early age as fundamental concepts in education, with numbers focusing on numeracy and mathematical skills, and letters focusing on literacy and language skills.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A mathematical object used to count, measure, and label.
A character representing one or more sounds in a language.
Complexity
Can range from simple (single-digit) to complex (multiple digits, decimals).
Consists of a single character in an alphabet.
Usage
Used in mathematics, science, finance, and everyday counting.
Used in forming words and sentences in languages.
Variability
Generally consistent across cultures in terms of symbols and meanings.
Varies significantly across different languages and alphabets.
Educational Focus
Numeracy and mathematical concepts.
Literacy, phonetics, and language skills.
Compare with Definitions
Number
An abstract concept that quantifies or measures things.
There are 30 students in the class.
Letter
Can be decorative or symbolic in various contexts.
The letter 'S' is often stylized in logos.
Number
Used in performing arithmetic operations.
Adding 5 and 10 results in 15.
Letter
Varies in form between uppercase and lowercase.
'A' is uppercase, while 'a' is lowercase.
Number
Represents values in various contexts.
The temperature is 22 degrees Celsius.
Letter
A component of an alphabet used in forming words.
The letter 'M' begins the word monkey.
Number
Can denote position or rank.
She finished the race in 3rd place.
Letter
Integral to literacy and education.
Learning the letter 'B' is part of early reading skills.
Number
Essential in technologies and sciences.
The formula uses the number pi, approximately equal to 3.14159.
Letter
Represents phonetic sounds in spoken language.
The letter 'k' sounds like the beginning of kite.
Number
A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure, and label. The original examples are the natural numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth.
Letter
A character representing one or more of the sounds used in speech; any of the symbols of an alphabet
A capital letter
Number
A member of the set of positive integers; one of a series of symbols of unique meaning in a fixed order that can be derived by counting.
Letter
A written, typed, or printed communication, sent in an envelope by post or messenger
He sent a letter to Mrs Falconer
Number
A member of any of the following sets of mathematical objects
Integers, rational numbers, real numbers, and complex numbers. These sets can be derived from the positive integers through various algebraic and analytic constructions.
Letter
The precise terms of a statement or requirement; the strict verbal interpretation
We must keep the spirit of the law as well as the letter
The officer in the incident got in trouble for following the letter of the law
Number
Numbers Arithmetic.
Letter
Literature
The world of letters
Number
A symbol or word used to represent a number.
Letter
A style of typeface.
Number
A numeral or a series of numerals used for reference or identification
His telephone number.
The apartment number.
Letter
Inscribe letters or writing on
Her name was lettered in gold
Number
A position in an ordered sequence that corresponds to one of the positive integers
The house that is number three from the corner.
Ranked number six in her class.
Letter
Be given a school or college initial as a mark of proficiency in sport
In high school she lettered in soccer, basketball and softball
Number
One item in a group or series considered to be in numerical order
An old number of a magazine.
Letter
A written symbol or character representing a speech sound and being a component of an alphabet.
Number
A total; a sum
The number of feet in a mile.
Letter
A written symbol or character used in the graphemic representation of a word, such as the h in Thames. See Note at Thames.
Number
An indefinite quantity of units or individuals
The crowd was small in number. A number of people complained.
Letter
A written or printed communication directed to a person or organization.
Number
A large quantity; a multitude
Numbers of people visited the fair.
Letter
Often letters A certified document granting rights to its bearer.
Number
Numerical superiority
The South had leaders, the North numbers.
Letter
Literal meaning
Had to adhere to the letter of the law.
Number
(Grammar) The indication, as by inflection, of the singularity, duality, or plurality of a linguistic form.
Letter
Literary culture; belles-lettres.
Number
Metrical feet or lines; verses
"These numbers will I tear, and write in prose" (Shakespeare).
Letter
Learning or knowledge, especially of literature.
Number
(Obsolete) Poetic meter.
Letter
Literature or writing as a profession.
Number
Numbers(Archaic) Musical periods or measures.
Letter
A piece of type that prints a single character.
Number
Numbers (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Games A numbers game.
Letter
A specific style of type.
Number
Numbers (used with a sing. verb) See Table at Bible.
Letter
The characters in one style of type.
Number
One of the separate offerings in a program of music or other entertainment
The band's second number was a march.
Letter
An emblem in the shape of the initial of a school awarded for outstanding performance, especially in varsity athletics.
Number
(Slang) A frequently repeated, characteristic speech, argument, or performance
Suspects doing their usual number—protesting innocence.
Letter
To write letters on
Lettered the paper.
Number
(Slang) A person or thing singled out for a particular characteristic
A crafty number.
Letter
To write in letters
Lettered our name on the mailbox.
Number
To assign a number to or mark with a number
Did you number the pages of the report?.
Letter
To write or form letters.
Number
To determine the number or amount of; count
Tickets sold for the show were numbered at 500.
Letter
To earn a school letter, as for outstanding athletic achievement
She lettered in three collegiate sports.
Number
To total in number or amount; add up to
The ships in the harbor number around 100.
Letter
A symbol in an alphabet.
There are twenty-six letters in the English alphabet.
Number
To include in a group or category
He was numbered among the lost.
Letter
A written or printed communication, generally longer and more formal than a note.
I wrote a letter to my sister about my life.
Number
To limit or restrict in number
Our days are numbered.
Letter
The literal meaning of something, as distinguished from its intended and remoter meaning (the spirit).
Number
To call off numbers; count
Numbering to ten.
Letter
Literature.
Benjamin Franklin was multiskilled – a scientist, politician and a man of letters.
Number
To have as a total; amount to a number
The applicants numbered in the thousands.
Letter
(law) A division unit of a piece of law marked by a letter of the alphabet.
Letter (b) constitutes an exception to this provision.
Number
(countable) An abstract entity used to describe quantity.
Zero, one, −1, 2.5, and pi are all numbers.
Letter
A size of paper, 8½ in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm, US paper sizes rounded to the nearest 5 mm).
Number
(countable) A numeral: a symbol for a non-negative integer.
The number 8 is usually made with a single stroke.
Letter
A size of paper, 215 mm × 280 mm.
Number
An element of one of several sets: natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, real numbers, complex numbers, and sometimes extensions such as hypercomplex numbers, etc.
The equation includes the most important numbers: 1, 0, , , and .
Letter
Clipping of varsity letter
Number
(Followed by a numeral; used attributively) Indicating the position of something in a list or sequence. Abbreviations: No or No., no or no. (in each case, sometimes written with a superscript "o", like Nº or №). The symbol "#" is also used in this manner.
Horse number 5 won the race.
Letter
A single type; type, collectively; a style of type.
Number
Quantity.
Any number of people can be reading from a given repository at a time.
Letter
One who lets, or lets out.
The letter of a room
A blood-letter
Number
A sequence of digits and letters used to register people, automobiles, and various other items.
Her passport number is C01X864TN.
Letter
(archaic) One who retards or hinders.
Number
A telephone number.
Letter
(transitive) To print, inscribe, or paint letters on something.
Number
(grammar) Of a word or phrase, the state of being singular, dual or plural, shown by inflection.
Adjectives and nouns should agree in gender, number, and case.
Letter
To earn a varsity letter (award).
Number
Poetic metres; verses, rhymes.
Letter
One who lets or permits; one who lets anything for hire.
Number
(countable) A performance; especially, a single song or song and dance routine within a larger show.
For his second number, he sang "The Moon Shines Bright".
Letter
One who retards or hinders.
Number
A person.
Letter
A mark or character used as the representative of a sound, or of an articulation of the human organs of speech; a first element of written language.
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew.
Number
An item of clothing, particularly a stylish one.
Letter
A written or printed communication; a message expressed in intelligible characters on something adapted to conveyance, as paper, parchment, etc.; an epistle.
The style of letters ought to be free, easy, and natural.
Number
A marijuana cigarette, or joint; also, a quantity of marijuana bought from a dealer.
Letter
A writing; an inscription.
None could expound what this letter meant.
Number
(dated) An issue of a periodical publication.
The latest number of a magazine
Letter
Verbal expression; literal statement or meaning; exact signification or requirement.
We must observe the letter of the law, without doing violence to the reason of the law and the intention of the lawgiver.
I broke the letter of it to keep the sense.
Number
A large amount, in contrast to a smaller amount; numerical preponderance.
Letter
A single type; type, collectively; a style of type.
Under these buildings . . . was the king's printing house, and that famous letter so much esteemed.
Number
A large amount of damage
Letter
Learning; erudition; as, a man of letters.
Number
(transitive) To label (items) with numbers; to assign numbers to (items).
Number the baskets so that we can find them easily.
Letter
A letter; an epistle.
Number
(intransitive) To total or count; to amount to.
I don’t know how many books are in the library, but they must number in the thousands.
Letter
A telegram longer than an ordinary message sent at rates lower than the standard message rate in consideration of its being sent and delivered subject to priority in service of regular messages. Such telegrams are called by the Western Union Company day letters, or night letters according to the time of sending, and by The Postal Telegraph Company day lettergrams, or night lettergrams.
A strange lock that opens with AMEN.
Number
That which admits of being counted or reckoned; a unit, or an aggregate of units; a numerable aggregate or collection of individuals; an assemblage made up of distinct things expressible by figures.
Letter
To impress with letters; to mark with letters or words; as, a book gilt and lettered.
Number
A collection of many individuals; a numerous assemblage; a multitude; many.
Ladies are always of great use to the party they espouse, and never fail to win over numbers.
Letter
A written message addressed to a person or organization;
Mailed an indignant letter to the editor
Number
A numeral; a word or character denoting a number; as, to put a number on a door.
Letter
The conventional characters of the alphabet used to represent speech;
His grandmother taught him his letters
Number
Numerousness; multitude.
Number itself importeth not much in armies where the people are of weak courage.
Letter
A strictly literal interpretation (as distinct from the intention);
He followed instructions to the letter
He obeyed the letter of the law
Number
The state or quality of being numerable or countable.
Of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds out of number.
Letter
An award earned by participation in a school sport;
He won letters in three sports
Number
Quantity, regarded as made up of an aggregate of separate things.
Letter
Owner who lets another person use something (housing usually) for hire
Number
That which is regulated by count; poetic measure, as divisions of time or number of syllables; hence, poetry, verse; - chiefly used in the plural.
I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came.
Letter
Win an athletic letter
Number
The distinction of objects, as one, or more than one (in some languages, as one, or two, or more than two), expressed (usually) by a difference in the form of a word; thus, the singular number and the plural number are the names of the forms of a word indicating the objects denoted or referred to by the word as one, or as more than one.
Letter
Set down or print with letters
Number
The measure of the relation between quantities or things of the same kind; that abstract species of quantity which is capable of being expressed by figures; numerical value.
Letter
Mark letters on or mark with letters
Number
To count; to reckon; to ascertain the units of; to enumerate.
If a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
Number
To reckon as one of a collection or multitude.
He was numbered with the transgressors.
Number
To give or apply a number or numbers to; to assign the place of in a series by order of number; to designate the place of by a number or numeral; as, to number the houses in a street, or the apartments in a building.
Number
To amount; to equal in number; to contain; to consist of; as, the army numbers fifty thousand.
Thy tears can not number the dead.
Number
The property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals;
He had a number of chores to do
The number of parameters is small
The figure was about a thousand
Number
A concept of quantity derived from zero and units;
Every number has a unique position in the sequence
Number
A short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program;
He did his act three times every evening
She had a catchy little routine
It was one of the best numbers he ever did
Number
A numeral or string of numerals that is used for identification;
She refused to give them her Social Security number
Number
The number is used in calling a particular telephone;
He has an unlisted number
Number
A symbol used to represent a number;
He learned to write the numerals before he went to school
Number
One of a series published periodically;
She found an old issue of the magazine in her dentist's waitingroom
Number
A select company of people;
I hope to become one of their number before I die
Number
The grammatical category for the forms of nouns and pronouns and verbs that are used depending on the number of entities involved (singular or dual or plural);
In English the subject and the verb must agree in number
Number
An item of merchandise offered for sale;
She preferred the black nylon number
This sweater is an all-wool number
Number
A clothing measurement;
A number 13 shoe
Number
Add up in number or quantity;
The bills amounted to $2,000
The bill came to $2,000
Number
Give numbers to;
You should number the pages of the thesis
Number
Enumerate;
We must number the names of the great mathematicians
Number
Put into a group;
The academy counts several Nobel Prize winners among its members
Number
Determine the number or amount of;
Can you count the books on your shelf?
Count your change
Number
Place a limit on the number of
Common Curiosities
How do children learn numbers and letters?
Children learn numbers and letters through educational activities focused on numeracy and literacy.
What is a letter?
A letter is a character in an alphabet that represents one or more specific sounds in a language.
What is a number?
A number is an abstract mathematical object used for counting, measuring, and labeling.
Can numbers be used like letters?
While numbers represent quantities, they can sometimes symbolically represent concepts, much like letters, especially in alphanumeric codes.
What roles do numbers and letters play in technology?
Numbers are crucial in coding, calculations, and operations, while letters are vital for data entry, programming, and interfaces.
Can numbers and letters be combined?
Yes, they are often combined in alphanumeric passwords, serial codes, and data entries.
What is the difference between digits and numbers?
Digits are individual symbols used to form numbers, much like letters are used to form words.
Are letters used in all languages?
Not all languages use letters; some, like Chinese, use logograms, which are symbols representing words or morphemes.
Why are numbers universal but letters are not?
Numbers represent universal mathematical concepts, whereas letters are specific to particular linguistic systems.
How many letters are in the English alphabet?
The English alphabet consists of 26 letters.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
