https://www.proz.com/kudoz/english/finance-general/2347801-floor-%E2%80%93-the-first-how-to-get-rid-of-an-ambiguity-.html

"floor – the first" - how to get rid of an ambiguity ?

English translation: ground floor

11:26 Jan 11, 2008
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Finance (general)
English term or phrase: "floor – the first" - how to get rid of an ambiguity ?
As far as I know, in the US "first floor" is actually the first floor while in the UK "first floor" it is the second floor - how can I get rid of this ambiguity in the sentence below -

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1.2. The apartment, which is alienated by this agreement, is located in Kharkiv city, at the address ... and has following characteristics: total area – 63.6 square meters, living area 34.6 square meters, number of rooms – two, floor – the first.
Alexander Onishko
Selected answer:ground floor
Explanation:
IMO you have to specify that it is on the ground floor -- this means the same thing in UK and US parlance
Selected response from:

Ken Cox
Local time: 15:26
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +7ground floor
Ken Cox
3 +3ground level is unambiguous...
BusterK
3by using story (storey in the UK)
Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
ground level is unambiguous...


Explanation:
then you should use ground or state that you do not count ground level for the others, i.e. ground, 1st above ground / not counting ground.
If in you cultural context, first for ground level is more natural, keep it and add a comment : first (ground) or second (first above ground)...

BusterK
Local time: 15:26
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nesrin
4 mins
  -> thanks

agree  Arcoiris
14 mins
  -> thanks

agree  Deborah Workman
15 hrs
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
"floor – the first"
ground floor


Explanation:
IMO you have to specify that it is on the ground floor -- this means the same thing in UK and US parlance

Ken Cox
Local time: 15:26
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nesrin
3 mins

agree  David Moore (X): And that is from an AENS - I'd go for that
13 mins

agree  Joyce A
1 hr

agree  Expialidocio (X)
1 hr

agree  cmwilliams (X)
3 hrs

agree  Sabine Akabayov, PhD
14 hrs

agree  Deborah Workman
14 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
by using story (storey in the UK)


Explanation:
as I understand it one story means one level of the building - this way you avoid "ground floor" problem.

Kind Regards

Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:26
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish
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