hans aberg (wouldn't you know) writes: > If one carries out your argument, then there should be no math environment. here we go again. we _can't_ do without a maths environment, because tex is coded in such a way that it's as near absolutely essential as makes no difference. > If one leaves numbers out in a text mode, then those that want to use > numbers will have to do some additional markup, be it "math" or "phone" or > whatever. having markup to encase digits in text is often useful; i agree. phone numbers are a case in point. however, i would fight hard indeed against your crazy suggestion that we need to mark up (for example) quantities written numerically "... there are between three and \mathematicalnumber{20} of these creatures, according to the time of day..." complete lunacy, imo. robin