We all know what the author meant. We often talk about 1.618 meaning the number phi, because it is too long-winded to utter more decimal places or to be precise about the number. Imagine how long it would take to say 'A half plus half of the square root of five' every time we wished to refer to the number - ten syllables instead of five. Would Anonymous be satisfied with 'One point six one eight dot dot dot' instead? Do we have the permission of Anonymous to give this in print using the ellipsis: 1.618 ... ?