Is it common to use “A” and “B” to represent something during talking?












1















E.g. I would like to say "Lets call (someone from some department) A, and (someone from some department) B. A and B are....".



Is it common to do it in English?










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  • In my experience, yes!

    – Tim Foster
    13 hours ago











  • That thing began at the end of the 15th century and became popular in the 16th, in the Age of Enlightenment with the work of Descartes.

    – user647486
    13 hours ago
















1















E.g. I would like to say "Lets call (someone from some department) A, and (someone from some department) B. A and B are....".



Is it common to do it in English?










share|improve this question























  • In my experience, yes!

    – Tim Foster
    13 hours ago











  • That thing began at the end of the 15th century and became popular in the 16th, in the Age of Enlightenment with the work of Descartes.

    – user647486
    13 hours ago














1












1








1








E.g. I would like to say "Lets call (someone from some department) A, and (someone from some department) B. A and B are....".



Is it common to do it in English?










share|improve this question














E.g. I would like to say "Lets call (someone from some department) A, and (someone from some department) B. A and B are....".



Is it common to do it in English?







meaning-in-context






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











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asked 13 hours ago









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1608













  • In my experience, yes!

    – Tim Foster
    13 hours ago











  • That thing began at the end of the 15th century and became popular in the 16th, in the Age of Enlightenment with the work of Descartes.

    – user647486
    13 hours ago



















  • In my experience, yes!

    – Tim Foster
    13 hours ago











  • That thing began at the end of the 15th century and became popular in the 16th, in the Age of Enlightenment with the work of Descartes.

    – user647486
    13 hours ago

















In my experience, yes!

– Tim Foster
13 hours ago





In my experience, yes!

– Tim Foster
13 hours ago













That thing began at the end of the 15th century and became popular in the 16th, in the Age of Enlightenment with the work of Descartes.

– user647486
13 hours ago





That thing began at the end of the 15th century and became popular in the 16th, in the Age of Enlightenment with the work of Descartes.

– user647486
13 hours ago










1 Answer
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I have heard substitute names used more often, plain names like "Sally" and "Jim", but "A" and "B" would not sound strange at all. However, you may want to call them "person A" and "person B", at least the first time you mention each.






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    I have heard substitute names used more often, plain names like "Sally" and "Jim", but "A" and "B" would not sound strange at all. However, you may want to call them "person A" and "person B", at least the first time you mention each.






    share|improve this answer








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      I have heard substitute names used more often, plain names like "Sally" and "Jim", but "A" and "B" would not sound strange at all. However, you may want to call them "person A" and "person B", at least the first time you mention each.






      share|improve this answer








      New contributor




      PvtBuddie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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        I have heard substitute names used more often, plain names like "Sally" and "Jim", but "A" and "B" would not sound strange at all. However, you may want to call them "person A" and "person B", at least the first time you mention each.






        share|improve this answer








        New contributor




        PvtBuddie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.










        I have heard substitute names used more often, plain names like "Sally" and "Jim", but "A" and "B" would not sound strange at all. However, you may want to call them "person A" and "person B", at least the first time you mention each.







        share|improve this answer








        New contributor




        PvtBuddie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









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        answered 8 hours ago









        PvtBuddiePvtBuddie

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