I've noticed recently that many people from the US used to count hundreds instead of thousands although thousands do exist there. For example the number 2618 would be called: "twenty six hundreds and eighteen" instead of "two thousand, six hundreds and eighteen" (see an example here: at 45:31).
Then my question if it's common in the UK as well as in the US?
I am afraid to use it in the UK and to be sounded weird.
Best Answer
This isn't a case where there are strict rules, but you could use the following:
increasing number makes counting in hundreds less likely. Counting in hundreds from 1000 to 2000 is very common. 2000-5000, is less common but not unusual. 5000-9900 is unusual but still acceptable. 10000+ should never be used.
it's never used for multiples of 1000. E.g. "ten-hundred" is incorrect, but "eleven-hundred" is normal.
It is normally only used for multiples of 100, but this rule is sometimes broken, especially from 1000-2000.
there's an implication that when counting in hundreds that you're giving an approximate figure, not an exact one.
this system is for verbal communication and is rarely, if ever, written.
this is common in both English and US-English.