Riddles...

[#1]

1. What is the answer to the following?
What is a word made up of 4 letters, yet is also made up of 3. Sometimes is written with 9 letters, and then with 4. Rarely consists of 6, and never is written with 5.
2. Without a calculator work out the following:
Start with 1000
add 40
add 1000
add 30
another 1000
add 20
yet another 1000
and, finally, 10
What is the result?

[#2]

is that add or subtract on the 1000's ?
the wording is rather ambiguous,
I read it as add them so the answer is 2100, however it could just as easily be interpreted to be 100 /

[#3]

@nano
try this disambiguation:
Start with1000
add 40
add 1000
add 30
add another 1000
add 20
add yet another 1000
and, finally, add 10

[#4]

@w23
ahh see the starting word is take which implies your starting with a negative,
however that disambiguation does simplify it down to a result of 4100
which isn't a riddle but a straightforward sum, btw I rather suspect the answer was supposed to be 100

[#5]

Quote from: w23

@nano try this disambiguation: Start with1000

A have amended my OP.

[#6]

1. Yes 'what' is the answer as it has 4 letter, yet has 3, sometimes 9, then 4, rarely 6 and never 5
2. 2090 As some of the steps do not say to add.

[#7]

@mook
as would some /sum fit the riddle and I suspect a few other candidates, context is everything, what only fits if you allow the use of deviations from the dictionary to present as the answer

[#8]

?
Is that another riddle?

[#9]

What gets wetter as it dries?

(This is an easy one!)

[#10]

A chamois leather  
( I don't think that's the answer you were expecting.)
What can go up a chimney down but can't go down a chimney up? (Easy again).

[#11]

Quote from: w23

( I don't think that's the answer you were expecting.)

Nope, but close enough...

[#12]

Quote from: w23

A chamois leather   ( I don't think that's the answer you were expecting.) What can go up a chimney down but can't go down a chimney up? (Easy again).

Towel

Umbrella

'If One costs £1, and two costs £3, and 25 costs £2 , what am I buying?'.

[#13]

Quote from: doris

'If One costs £1, and two costs £3, and 25 costs £2 , what am I buying?'.

Should the question be 'If 1 costs £1, and two costs £3, and 25 costs £2 , what am I buying?' ? If not I give up.

[#14]

You are correct, exactly in the way you wrote it.  And yes, I believe you do know the answer

[#15]

Got it...I think.