Full Idea
Questions of the identification of the referents of number words should be dismissed as misguided in just the way that a question about the referents of the parts of a ruler would be seen as misguided.
Gist of Idea
Number words no more have referents than do the parts of a ruler
Source
Paul Benacerraf (What Numbers Could Not Be [1965], IIIC)
Book Reference
'Philosophy of Mathematics: readings (2nd)', ed/tr. Benacerraf/Putnam [CUP 1983], p.292
A Reaction
What a very nice simple point. It would be very strange to insist that every single part of the continuum of a ruler should be regarded as an 'object'.